Marriage Allowance – Do you qualify?
Find out if you qualify for Marriage Allowance...
Marriage Allowance lets you transfer £1,100 of your Personal Allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner – if they earn more than you.
This reduces their tax by up to £220 in the tax year (6 April to 5 April the next year).
To benefit as a couple, you (as the lower earner) must have an income of £11,000 or less. You can calculate how much tax you’ll pay as a couple.
If you were eligible for Marriage Allowance in the 2015 to 2016 tax year, you can backdate your claim to 6 April 2015 and reduce the tax paid by up to £432.
Who can apply
To qualify for Marriage Allowance, ALL of the following must apply:
- you’re married or in a civil partnership
- you don’t earn anything or your income is under £11,000
- your partner’s income is between £11,001 and £43,000
You can still apply for Marriage Allowance if you or your partner:
- are currently receiving a pension
- live abroad – as long as you get a Personal Allowance.
If you or your partner were born before 6 April 1935, you might benefit more as a couple by applying for Married Couple’s Allowance instead.