Married women will soon be able to discuss their tax affairs with the Jersey tax authority, without their husband’s permission, following Parliamentary approval of an update to Jersey’s tax rules.

On February 4, lawmakers approved the proposed change by 40 votes to two, with two abstentions.

Under the current rules, married women are prevented from discussing their tax affairs with Revenue Jersey without their husband’s permission, with married women only permitted to file their own tax return if they have opted for a separate assessment.

Dragging things kicking and screaming into the modern era, from January 1, 2021, both spouses and civil partners will be able to contact Revenue Jersey to discuss the couple’s tax affairs and update their tax information.

The changes will mean that in 2022 (for the 2021 tax year of assessment), the couple will still receive a joint tax return, but will both have the right to sign it. They will each have equal right to access and manage their tax affairs with Revenue Jersey, and they will have joint responsibility for paying income tax.

Treasury Minister Susie Pinel explained that the reforms “will finally give equal rights to both spouses and civil partners under Jersey’s tax law” and “remove the archaic presumption in the current law that a wife’s income is deemed to belong to her husband.”

For more information on this, and other topical international tax matters, please visit: https://www.cchgroup.com/roles/corporations/international-solutions/research/global-tax-weekly-a-closer-look

Jersey