As its Valentine’s Day you may be able to give your partner more than love this year – thanks to HMRC!

Marriage Allowance lets one partner transfer ten per cent of their Personal Allowance – currently £1,250 – to their husband, wife or civil partner if they earn more than them.

They can benefit from Marriage Allowance if all the following apply:

• they’re married or in a civil partnership

• they do not pay income tax (for example, their income is below the Personal Allowance – currently £12,500)

• their partner pays income tax at the basic rate, which usually means their income is between £12,501 and £50,000 (£43,430 in Scotland).

The law has recently changed allowing heterosexual couples to enter into civil partnerships, and eligible civil partners are also able to claim the allowance.

They can backdate their claim by up to four years, currently to include any tax year since 5 April 2015 that they were eligible for Marriage Allowance.

You can read more about Marriage Allowance and apply online at GOV.UK.

 

Noel Guilford