Should I Claim Marriage Allowance?
Quick Answer
If one partner earns below £12,570 and the other is a basic rate taxpayer, you could save up to £252 a year by claiming Marriage Allowance — and backdate the claim up to four years for a potential lump sum refund too.
Who's Eligible
You must be married or in a civil partnership. One partner needs to earn below the Personal Allowance (£12,570), and the other needs to be a basic rate taxpayer (earning between £12,570 and £50,270). If either partner is a higher or additional rate taxpayer, you're not eligible.
How Much You Can Save
The lower earner transfers £1,260 of their unused Personal Allowance to their partner. Since the receiving partner pays 20% tax, this reduces their tax bill by up to £252 a year (20% of £1,260).
Backdating Your Claim
You can backdate your claim by up to four tax years if you were eligible but didn't claim at the time. This can mean a lump sum refund on top of the ongoing annual saving going forward.
How to Claim
The lower-earning partner applies directly through GOV.UK using their Government Gateway login. The service is free — avoid third-party websites that charge a fee to submit the same free application.