Do you have to be married to be taxed as a couple??

[Shooter]

Hi Guys

Just wondering about something. I have a partner of 10 odd years or so. He is out of work. Social welfare want to refer to us as a couple and use my income to determine whether eligible for a payment. If this is the case shouldnt i be able to use his tax credits and be taxed as a married couple also. If so how do i do this????

 

[WaterSprite]

You can't I'm afraid. There is an imbalance in the system whereby both of your incomes are taken into account for SW purposes but you cannot be jointly assessed.

 

[Shooter]

yeah thats what i was thinking. what a crazy system. they are both state run but have totally different rules. Of course people loose out rather than gain anything