MARRIED people, and those in civil partnerships, will retain the right to file a joint tax return when legislation governing independent taxation comes into force in 2026.
The new law was passed by politicians in the States Assembly yesterday, with Members rejecting an amendment lodged by Deputy Louise Doublet calling for the removal of the right of couples to continue to file joint returns. She had previously said that offering the option of filing joint returns left women in Jersey at risk of economic abuse.
The move towards separate tax returns was backed by the previous States Assembly in 2021, with legislation drafted and put forward by Treasury Minister Elaine Millar.
Deputy Millar described the long-established arrangements for couples in Jersey as an “anachronism” and “an embarrassment”.
“Other countries made this move many years ago, and to continue for so long is an anachronism that has caused damage to Jersey in some quarters,” she said. “It will be good to finally move into the modern age.”
Any couples who did file a joint return would still be subjected to an individual, independent assessment, Deputy Millar added.
Deputy Doublet said she believed the option for joint returns could, in some cases, facilitate the continuation of economic abuse.
This was a form of coercive and controlling behaviour which could have lifelong effects, she said.
Around one in six of the 44,000 female Islanders aged 16 or over would experience some form of economic abuse in their lifetimes, Deputy Doublet estimated.
“Independent tax forms would provide an obstacle to the devastating impact of abuse,” she said, quoting domestic abuse charity Freeda.
Other Members said that while they respected the views of Deputy Doublet, they did not agree that joint returns would encourage economic abuse, and that many Islanders wanted to retain the option of joint returns, having used this system for many years.
Deputy Doublet’s amendment was defeated by 36 votes to eight, with those joining her to vote “pour” being Deputies Max Andrews, Inna Gardiner, Helen Miles, Kristina Moore, Lucy Stephenson, Karen Wilson and David Warr.
The remaining elements of the new legislation were supported unanimously by Members.
