LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs will not delay annual staff bonus payments to take advantage of a forthcoming fall in the top rate of income tax, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

Goldman sparked a furor after sources said it might delay bonus payments to staff in Britain until after April 6, when the top rate of income tax falls to 45 percent from 50 percent.

Goldman could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Steve Slater; Editing by Laura Noonan)