HMRC is raising awareness of the savings Marriage Allowance can bring to eligible couples across the country.
Marriage Allowance is a transferable tax allowance for married couples and civil partners to recognise marriage and civil partnerships through the income tax system. The Government launched this in April 2015, and it can help many couples to save over £200 from the tax bill every year. As well as couples with young families, a considerable number of pensioner couples can also benefit from the allowance.
Individuals who qualify can transfer ten per cent of their personal allowance to their spouse or civil partner. This can reduce their partner's income tax bill bu up to £220 this year, or £432 i couples who were also eligible in 2015-16 backdate their claim.
Who is eligible?
You can get the Marriage Allowance if all the following criteria apply:
- you're married or in a civil partnership
- you don't earn anything or you don't pay tax on your income (for most people that's an income of under £11,000)
- your partner doesn't pay tax at the higher or additional rate (for most people that's an income of £43,000 or below)
- you and your partner were born after 6 April 1935. Couple born before 1935 can benefit from the separate Marriage Couples Allowance.
You can apply if you or your partner are currently receiving a pension.
How to Apply
It is easy to apply for Marriage Allowance, the easiest route being through the online application service, which takes less than seven minutes to complete.
You can apply at: www.gov.uk/apply-marriage-allowance, or alternatively you can apply on the phone by calling HMRC on 0300 200 3300.