(Image: Stefan Rousseau)
Tens of thousands of people have backed a petition calling for the amount workers can earn before paying income tax to rise to £18,000.
The petition has now attracted 64,957 signatures, putting it well on the way towards the 100,000 threshold needed for it to be considered for debate in Parliament.
It calls on the Government to increase the Personal Allowance from £12,570 to £18,000, arguing that millions of workers are being hit by a tax squeeze as thresholds remain frozen.
The petition, created by Mike Haynes, says the Personal Allowance has been frozen at £12,570 since 2021.
It argues that the freeze is pushing more people into paying income tax as wages rise, a phenomenon known as fiscal drag.
The petition states: "We want to keep some more of our own money."
It adds: "If you are earning minimum wage then you may soon be paying tax because of fiscal drag."
The petition also claims: "Some higher earners pay little or no tax due to clever use of accounting rules. We think this is so wrong."
It will remain open for signatures until September 30, 2026.
Government says it would cost £40bn
However, ministers have already responded to the petition and said they have no plans to increase the Personal Allowance to £18,000.
The Government said such a move would come with a "significant fiscal cost of over £40 billion per year".
It also warned that increasing the allowance would benefit higher earners more than basic-rate taxpayers on average.
New analysis shows HMRC Personal Allowance should be £16,072 instead of £12,570 https://t.co/e7PZfwwM9W
— Swindon Advertiser (@swindonadver) August 5, 2026
The Government said: "The Government currently has no plans to increase the Personal Allowance to £18,000."
It added that raising the allowance would "reduce tax receipts substantially", leaving less money available for public services.
The Government said the previous administration had frozen the main income tax thresholds from 2021/22 until 2027/28, meaning the Personal Allowance was not due to rise until April 2028 at the earliest.
But at Budget 2025, the Government announced that personal tax thresholds would remain at their current levels for a further three years, taking the freeze through to the end of the decade.
That means the £12,570 Personal Allowance is currently set to remain frozen until April 2031.
(Image: Lucy North/PA Wire)
Petition needs 100,000 signatures
The petition passed the 10,000-signature threshold in April, triggering a Government response.
If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
With almost 65,000 people having signed so far, campaigners need just over 35,000 more signatures to reach that threshold before the September 30 deadline. It can still be signed here .
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The Government said it is committed to keeping taxes for working people as low as possible while continuing to invest in public services.
It also pointed to measures including support for childcare, changes to the minimum wage and policies aimed at reducing household costs.
The petition remains open until September 30.
What do you think the personal allowance should be? Tell us in the comments below...