Information Note on the Court’s case-law 12

November 1999

Crossland v. the United Kingdom - 36120/97

Judgment 9.11.1999 [Section III]

Article 14

Discrimination

Tax allowance available only to widows: friendly settlement

The applicant gave up his employment to care for his children following the death of his wife. He was informed by the tax authorities that the bereavement tax allowance was available only to women on the death of a husband and that no equivalent allowance was available to widowers.

The bereavement tax allowance will be abolished as from April 2000, and in settlement of the case the Government will pay the applicant the £575 which he would have rece ived if the allowance had been available for widowers, as well as £3,962.48 in respect of legal costs.

© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.

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