Middle-income earners are paying an income tax rate of 50 per cent, the Mail reports.

A report by financial services group Smith and Williamson revealed that in 1997, the average high-rate taxpayer earning £40,000 per year could expect to pay 35 pence tax in for every pound.

Today, although that income is likely to have risen to £50,400, half would be paid to the Treasury.

Meanwhile, a separate study by Numerica on behalf of the Express, claims that a typical married couple now pay at least £1,500 more for their annual bills than in 2002.