Claim Marriage Tax Allowance

by Vidit Agarwal Marketing Director

Are you married or in a civil partnership? - What is marriage tax allowance?

If you are married or in a civil partner, you may be entitled to marriage tax allowance which allows you to transfer a portion of your personal allowance to your spouse or partner. You can reduce your tax liability by up to £230 in the tax year through marriage allowance allowed by UK government. To get benefit as couple and able to transfer your personal allowance to your wife, husband or civil partner, you must have an income on or below your personal tax allowance which is £11,500. If you’re eligible and haven’t claimed marriage allowance even if you’re partner or spouse has died you can backdate your claim by informing HMRC.

Can You Claim It?

The amount couple can earn as tax-free in a tax year through marriage tax allowance only if:

· they are married or in a civil partner

· both you and your spouse or partner is born after April 6, 1935

· one of you is non-tax payer i.e. earns less than personal allowance or no income is earned.

· your partner is a basic income tax payer, with the income between £11,501 and £45,000, in case you are a Scotland tax payer your income should not be more than £43,000.

· your partner had died after April 2015, your marriage allowance claim won’t get affected.

You might get more benefit if you and your partner are born before April 6, 1935 through marriage couple’s allowance. Your marriage allowance application won’t get affected whether you or your partner receiving a pension currently or live abroad as long as you get a personal allowance.

Please note- you cannot claim both marriage couple’s allowance and marriage allowance at the same time.

Calculate your married couple’s allowance

Apply For Marriage Allowance Claim

Normally, person with lowest income apply for the marriage allowance. You can also apply online on HMRC website or by phone 0300 200 3300. You need to have yours and your partner’s national number and a document that proves your identity which could be your passport number or details from your P60 to apply for the claim. If your application is correct you’ll get an email for conformation of your application and HMRC will give you extra personal allowance either by changing your tax code, which could take approx. 2 months or when they’ll send you self-assessment tax return.

Marriage allowance will transfer automatically to your spouse or partner each year until one of you cancel it or if circumstances has change, may be because of death or divorce.