Make this Valentine’s Day extra special with a break; The Marriage Allowance tax break!

It’s the month of love, and whether wedding bells are on the horizon for you or you’re already married / in a civil partnership, it might just be time to say ‘I do’ to The Marriage Allowance as well.

We’re always trying to help ensure our clients make the most of tax reliefs however there are over 2 million couples in the UK still missing out on this tax break, so read on to find out how you can claim back up to £1,187* just for being married!

The Marriage Allowance was introduced in April 2015, for people born on or after 6 April 1935, ensuring low earners could benefit. It lets a spouse or civil partner, who earns less than their £12,500 personal tax allowance (therefore a non-taxpayer), to transfer 10% of their personal allowance to their spouse – only if the partner is a basic rate (20%) taxpayer, earning less than £50,000 as this does not apply to higher rate taxpayers. In the current tax year (2020/21) the marriage allowance equates to a maximum tax saving of £250 for eligible couples, which is a nice boost to finances we’re sure you don’t want to miss out on!

If you were born before 6 April 1935, then a different tax break Married Couples Allowance could be worth looking into.

*Backdate your claim

If you’re eligible for The Marriage Allowance, you can backdate your claim for up to 4 year provided you’ve met the criteria for this time, meaning you could claim up to a total of £1,187 broken down by each year tax year as follows:

  • 2016/17 - £220
  • 2017/18 - £230
  • 2018/19 - £237
  • 2019/20 - £250
  • 2020/21 - £250

Three’s a crowd

Be aware of companies suggesting they can help you claim the marriage allowance as they will take a percentage of your allowance. We advise to apply direct via the Gov.uk website, see below – it’s really simple to do!

It takes just 4 minutes

If you are the non-taxpayer in the relationship, you can apply anytime throughout the year and will take just a few minutes of your time by clicking here: https://www.gov.uk/marriage-allowance/how-to-apply

So, whilst love is in the air this February, why not take a few minutes to apply for The Marriage Allowance if you haven’t done so already, and if you have any queries, don’t hesitate to ask a member of our lovely tax team in South Manchester on 0161 905 1801 or in Warrington on 01925 830 830, or you can email us at mail@lwaltd.com. Happy Valentine’s Day!