IG Prime has launched a campaign highlighting what it describes as a significant tax penalty affecting high-earning UK workers earning between £100,000 and £125,000. The initiative, supported by comedian Josh Berry, calls for government action to address what the company terms the “£100k salary cliff edge” – a tax structure that creates effective marginal tax rates as high as 60% for workers crossing the threshold.
- Marginal Tax Rate: Up to 60% between £100k-£125k salary range
- Childcare Support Loss: Families can lose thousands annually when exceeding £100k threshold
- Research Sample: 1,003 UK respondents earning £90k-£125k (conducted February 2026)
- Potential Annual Cost: Up to £13,000 for high-earning households with nursery-age children
- Inflation Adjustment: Childcare support threshold unchanged since 2013; would be £135k if indexed
IG Prime’s research reveals that nearly half of high-earning households report insufficient capacity to invest for long-term wealth creation, rising to 92% among those with nursery-age children. The company found that many workers are declining promotions or refusing pay rises to avoid triggering the tax cliff edge, potentially costing families over £13,000 annually when accounting for lost childcare support and personal allowances.
The campaign calls for four government changes: adjusting the £100k threshold upwards in line with inflation, smoothing the personal allowance cliff edge between £100k-£125k, introducing tax incentives for UK company investment, and reviewing salary sacrifice arrangements. Jeremy Hunt, former Chancellor and current MP, stated that the tax system distortions warrant evolution as wages adjust to inflation, emphasising the importance of supporting aspiration and long-term investing.
IG Prime argues that the current tax structure discourages career progression and wealth building among a demographic it characterizes as the engine of economic growth. The company emphasizes that tax-efficient investment vehicles such as ISAs and salary sacrifice schemes remain available strategies for managing income and building long-term financial security despite systemic constraints.
