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Income Tax: Young People

Asked by Simon HoareConservativeTreasuryTabled Answered 9 September 2025UIN 73731

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people pay income tax at age (a) 16, (b) 17, (c) 18, (d) 19, (e) 20 and (f) 21.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson

Estimates for the number of Income Tax taxpayers in thousands aged 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 for the tax year 2022 to 2023 are set out in the table below. Note that the figures here only relate to Income Tax; individuals are likely to pay other taxes as well.

Age

Estimated number of Income Tax taxpayers (thousands)

16-21

713

Source: Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23

Notes on the table

1. The tax year 2022 to 2023 is the latest year for which these figures are available.

2. Estimates are presented in thousands.

3. The estimates for 16 and 17 year olds have been combined to avoid suppression due to small sample sizes.

4. The data underlying the Survey of Personal Incomes is based on a large sample of over 900,000 individuals with incomes reported to HMRC. As is the case with the published Personal Incomes Statistics, these figures are statistical estimates and will be subject to sampling variation.

5. This table only covers individuals with some liability to tax.

6. For more information about the Survey of Personal Incomes please refer to the supporting documentation. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-incomes-statistics-for-the-tax-year-2022-to-2023/personal-income-statistics-2022-to-2023-supporting-documentation

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