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Hey, Mr Taxman, why do I pay more to be childless and single?

Marriage Allowance, Child Allowance, Dependent Parent Allowance ... the list goes on. But what about one-person households? A Hongkonger with no kids has a humble request: give us a break, too

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.Everyone else seems to have an allowance against tax, so why not the single childless too?

Published: 8:17am, 24 Mar 2017Updated: 8:28am, 24 Mar 2017

Dear Mr Taxman,
Transferring another chunk of cash to the Inland Revenue Department has got me thinking about comments I’ve been hearing from married-with-children friends about this fund-sucking time of year.

“Oh, we can claim marriage allowance.”

“Oh, my tax bill is nothing – having kids makes it so cheap.”

In a true reflection of Hong Kong’s social and living conditions, we also have Dependent Brother or Dependent Sister Allowance and Dependent Parent and Dependent Grandparent Allowance. Single mothers, too, get tax breaks – and rightly so.

But, Mr Taxman, I have a bee in my bonnet. And don’t get me wrong, Hong Kong’s low personal tax rate is one of the many things that make this such a great place to live. Still, how about amending the tax law to recognise a different breed – the Single Childless.

“Yes,” I hear you say, “but most young singles live with their parents before they get married.” (Thank you, ridiculously high rents!)

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