👓 2026/27 Tax Year · Save up to £614/year

Blind Person's Allowance Explained

If you are registered as blind or severely sight impaired, you can get an extra £3,070 added to your tax-free allowance in the UK. Here is how it works.

The Blind Person's Allowance (BPA) is an extra tax-free allowance available to people in the UK who are registered as blind or severely sight impaired.

How much is it worth in 2026/27?

For the 2026/27 tax year, the allowance is £3,070. This means you can earn an extra £3,070 before you start paying income tax.

  • Basic Rate taxpayers: Saves 20% on £3,070 = £614/year
  • Higher Rate taxpayers: Saves 40% on £3,070 = £1,228/year

This is added to your standard Personal Allowance of £12,570, giving you a total tax-free amount of £15,640.

Transferring to a partner

If your income is too low to use all of your Blind Person's Allowance (or your standard Personal Allowance), you can transfer the remaining amount to your husband, wife, or civil partner.

They do not need to be blind to receive this transfer. It simply reduces their tax bill instead. You must contact HMRC to arrange the transfer.

How to claim

1
Get registered
In England/Wales, register with your local council. In Scotland/NI, get certification from an eye specialist.
2
Contact HMRC
Call HMRC on 0300 200 3301. Tell them you want to claim the Blind Person's Allowance.
3
Tax code update
HMRC will update your tax code (e.g., from 1257L to 1564L) so your employer taxes you less.
💡 You can backdate your claim

You can backdate your claim for the Blind Person's Allowance by up to 4 tax years, as long as you were registered as blind during those years. This could result in a significant tax rebate.

Source: GOV.UK Blind Person's Allowance

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FAQs

What is the Blind Person's Allowance for 2026/27?+
For the 2026/27 tax year, the Blind Person's Allowance is £3,070. This is added to your standard Personal Allowance (£12,570), meaning you could have a total tax-free allowance of £15,640.
How do I claim the Blind Person's Allowance?+
You need to contact HMRC to claim it. If you live in England or Wales, you must be registered as blind or severely sight impaired with your local council. If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can claim if your sight is too poor to do work for which eyesight is essential.
Can I transfer my Blind Person's Allowance to my spouse?+
Yes. If your income is too low to use all of your Blind Person's Allowance (or your standard Personal Allowance), you can transfer the unused amount to your husband, wife, or civil partner, regardless of whether they are blind.
Does claiming the allowance affect my tax code?+
Yes. When you claim the Blind Person's Allowance, HMRC will update your tax code to reflect your increased tax-free amount. For example, a standard 1257L tax code would increase to 1564L.
Can I backdate a claim for Blind Person's Allowance?+
Yes, you can backdate your claim by up to 4 previous tax years, provided you were registered as blind (or met the criteria in Scotland/NI) during those years.