Non-taxable state benefits

Produced by a Tolley Personal Tax expert
Personal Tax
Guidance

Non-taxable state benefits

Produced by a Tolley Personal Tax expert
Personal Tax
Guidance
imgtext

The majority of state benefits (also called social security benefits) are managed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) via the Jobcentre Plus.

More information on the range of state benefits that may be available to individuals in the UK can be found on the GOV.UK website.

For more details of benefits in Scotland, see the Scottish Government website. For information on welfare benefit in Wales, see the Welsh Government website.

Significant welfare powers have been devolved to the Scottish Government, including the right to create new benefits and responsibility for some existing benefits. The tax status of benefits is determined by the UK Government.

The position in Wales is under review, with the majority of benefits administered at UK level, although the Welsh Government and local authorities in Wales continue to administer some grants and allowances. For an overview of the policy position, see the Wales Centre for Public Policy website.

Table of non-taxable UK state benefits

For completeness, the table below is based on ITEPA 2003, s 677, which includes some benefits which

Continue reading the full document
To gain access to additional expert tax guidance, workflow tools, generative tax AI, and tax research, register for a free trial of Tolley+™
Powered by Tolley+
  • 02 Mar 2026 14:40

Popular Articles

Exemption ― burial and cremation

Exemption ― burial and cremationThis guidance note provides an overview of the VAT treatment of services that are provided in connection with the burial or cremation of human remains.VAT treatmentThe following services are exempt from VAT:•the disposal of the remains of the dead•making arrangements

14 Jul 2020 11:38 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more

Ministers of religion

Ministers of religionMost ministers of religion or members of the clergy are either office-holders or employees and so their earnings are taxable under ITEPA 2003 as employment income and are subject to Class 1 National Insurance.For the purposes of the tax system, a minister does not have to belong

14 Jul 2020 12:14 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more

Qualifying charitable donations

Qualifying charitable donationsCompanies can obtain corporation tax relief for qualifying payments or certain transfers of assets to charity under the qualifying charitable donations regime. Definition of qualifying charitable donationThe definition of ‘qualifying charitable donations’

14 Jul 2020 13:03 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more