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Removing the option for married or civil partnered couples to complete a joint tax return is causing “real anxiety" among elderly islanders, according to a Reform Deputy.
Deputy Montfort Tadier has voiced concern about the potential impact of plans to enshrine independent taxation in Jersey's legislation, which were brought forward by Deputy Louise Doublet earlier this year.
Deputy Tadier said his concerns follow discussions with older married couples, who have said they are worried about the practical and administrative challenges of moving away from the joint tax filing system they have been accustomed to for many years.
Pictured: Deputy Tadier said proposals to remove the option for couples to complete a joint tax return is causing “real anxiety" among some elderly islands.
The draft law, which seeks to make independent taxation in Jersey compulsory, will be debated in States Assembly later this month.
It comes after Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham last year succeeded in retaining the option for married couples and civil partners to file joint returns, after the States Assembly approved in 2021 the move toward separate tax returns.
During the debate, he said that some older married couples were "uneasy" at the prospect of being "forced" to move to independent taxation.
He insisted that his proposition "fully supports" the previously agreed position of independent taxation as the "default position" for all new married couples and civil partners.
Deputy Tadier shared an example of a "typical email" he received from one of his constituents.
"For nearly 40 years [my husband] and I, as a married couple, have always filled in a paper annual tax form together," the email said.
"I am informed that in 2025 this will no longer be possible.
"He has dementia and now resides in a Care Home so it would be impossible for him to fill in a single tax form.
"I think it would be totally unfair to make this compulsory for everyone without providing some exemptions for couples in certain difficult situations."
Deputy Tadier said that while Reform Jersey supports a move to individual taxation for newly married couples, the party thinks the "proportional and sensible approach" is including a provision for existing married couples to continue as they are if they wish.
Pictured: Deputy Monty Tadier said Reform Jersey thinks the "proportional and sensible approach" is including a provision for existing married couples to continue with joint taxation if they wish.
He added: "We know that by 2026, it is expected that everyone will be taxed independently, but having the ability of needing to complete one form instead of two, will be a great peace of mind for those who have been used to doing that their whole married lives.
"From the point of view of the administrative burden of the tax department, where a couple submits two forms, those two forms would still need to be assessed together to figure out the tax liability and any compensatory allowance that might be applied in future.
"What we are supporting will lift the bureaucratic burden, whilst allowing peace of mind to those who have concerns."
However, Deputy Doublet has raised concerns about the potential for domestic abuse that can be enabled by joint filing, where abusive partners have control over their victim's finances.
She said: "If we include a joint filing option in this legislation, it will give abusers a tool to initiate or continue economic abuse against vulnerable partners, the majority of which are women.
"I'm not willing to let even one women be subjected to abuse when it can be avoided."
Pictured: Deputy Louise Doublet proposed plans to enshrine independent taxation in Jersey's legislation earlier this year.
Deputy Doublet said that awareness of economic abuse had increased since the publication of the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce report, which found that 57% of victim-survivors surveyed had experienced financial or economic abuse.
She explained: "Not all relationships are abusive, and couples who aren't in an abusive relationship may wonder why this is important.
"I call on those women who aren't being abused to act in solidarity with those women who are and act for those women who can't speak up for themselves because of the vulnerable position that they're in."
Deputy Doublet encouraged women to access community clinics and other resources to gain confidence in filing their tax return
"I can empathise with people who don't like filling in tax forms, and I can understand the reluctance to do that," she said.
"I am certain that there will be support in place to empower every islander to fill in their own form."
FOCUS: The push for "truly independent taxation"
Older islanders "uneasy" about independent taxation
Married women to be taxed independently from next year (2021)
Tax reform: “With equal rights come equal responsibility" (2020)
Comment: Women – taxation DOES have to be taxing (2019)
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