WOMEN aged 60 to 64 are being ripped off by the taxman.

Women born before April 5, 1950 are legally entitled to retire on their 60th birthday.

Everyone pays income tax, but retired women aged 60 to 64 pay more than retired men and women aged 65 and over.

The Personal Allowance for a woman aged 60 to 64 for the tax year 2007-08 will be £5,225. For those 65 and over, it rises to £7,550.

For those on the basic state pension of £84.25 a week it won't make any difference. But if you have additional income from an annuity or works pension it will.

For example, if you have a works pension of £12,000 per annum with a state pension of £84.25 a week, a woman aged 60 to 64 would pay £510 a year more in tax than a woman/man 65 or over.

Women born before April 5, 1950 are entitled to retire on their 60th birthday, so why are they being discriminated against?

I urge you to write to your MP asking him/her to pressure the Chancellor to put right this anomaly and ensure that when women retire they are given the same income tax rights as men. - Name and address supplied.