Married women in Jersey won’t have to have their husband’s signature as permission to discuss their tax affairs.

The Treasury Minister is making a late change to her Budget to scrap the outdated practice.

Deputy Susie Pinel says she and Assistant Minister Deputy Lindsay Ash are reacting to criticism that there is no place for the current rules in modern society.

At the moment a wife needs her husband’s permission to be able to discuss their tax matters with the Tax Office.

The Minister is making a late change to the Budget that would mean consent is presumed.

If agreed by the States, the change would take effect in January and apply to couples in same-sex marriages and civil partnerships.

It will cover tax returns, effective rates and other matters relating to the 2017 year of assessment onwards.

A public consultation into wider reforms of personal income tax is due to be launched in the next few weeks.