Apply for marriage allowance before April 5th

If you’re married or in a civil partnership, you could receive a financial boost by applying for the marriage allowance before the end of the tax year on the 5th April.  HMRC estimates that around 2 million couples are missing out on this tax break, but you could be saving up to £252 a year by doing so. 

What is the marriage allowance?

Marriage allowance saves couples money by allowing the lower or non-earner in the couple to reduce the amount of income tax their partner pays by transferring up to £1,260 (10%) of their personal allowance to their spouse or civil partner.

What happens next?

The higher earner of the couple will then receive a tax credit equivalent to the amount of personal allowance transferred to them. This is deducted from the amount of tax they would usually have to pay.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for marriage allowance, you must be married of in a civil partnership.

But it doesn’t matter if you’re currently receiving a pension, or you live abroad - as long as you get a tax-free personal allowance, you can apply.

You both must have been born on or after 6 April 1935. But, if you were born before this, you can apply for the married couple’s allowance instead, which is worth between £401 and £1,037.50 a year in tax relief.

If one of you has given up work, retired, taken on care responsibilities or is working a part-time or low income job, you will still be eligible if you meet the above criteria.

How do you apply?

First, check if you're eligible, by using HMRC's online marriage allowance calculator.

Then you can apply online, but make sure you have details of you and your partner's national insurance number ready.

Alternatively, claim by printing out and filling in the marriage allowance form MATCF and sending it to the address on the application.