Tax Credits: Is Single + One Parent = Married Credit?

[Poormans]

In these times all I guess we all think about every little penny. So this is a query on whether Single + One Parent Family Credits is exactly the same as the Married persons credit.

I am getting married next year. I currently get the Single persons credit and the One Parent family credit. Together they come to 3,300 (as of 2011 budget). The Married persons credit is also 3,300 (as of 2011 budget)

The person I am marrying is not the parent of my child. So once we get married and move in together I will lose the Single and One parent family but gain the Married persons credit. The person I am marrying is also not in full employment and works 8 months of the year.

From a tax point of view will my tax be exactly the same, swapping 3,300 for 3,300 or are there other effects to getting married?

Thank you in advance for your wisdom

 

[Greta]

Your tax position would be the same if the person you marry has no income and you get their tax credit. However, they work 8 months of the year, so presumably they earn enough to use up their tax credit themselves, which means that you will just lose your one parent family credit, and that's it. From a tax point of view you are better off not marrying or living together with anybody.