What is the Marriage Allowance?
Since 6 April 2015, legislation has been in force which allows couples (made up of one non-taxpayer and one basic-rate tax payer) to share part of their annual tax allowance, saving them up to £238 each year. The scheme allows those who earn less than £11,850 each year (the average tax free allowance for the basic rate tax payer), to transfer up to £1,190 of their unused allowance to their spouse.
Who is Eligible?
In order to be considered for the allowance, you must meet the following conditions:
- Be married or in a civil partnership
- Ensure that the party transferring their personal allowance does not have earnings exceeding £11,850. (This excludes any tax free income e.g. up to £5,000 savings interest)
- Ensure the party receiving the transfer is a basic rate tax payer and has an annual income between £11,850 and £46,350)
The spouse that earns less than £11,850 can transfer their unused personal allowance to their partner – up to a maximum of £1,190. This means their spouse’s tax free allowance can then be increased. If the full amount (£1,190) is transferred, the spouse will receive a tax-free allowance of £13,040, saving the couple 20% or £238.
Example
Jenny makes £7,000 annually as a hairdresser. Her spouse, Jon, makes £30,000 a year. Jenny has £4,000 left of personal allowance and therefore can transfer the maximum allowance of £1,190 to Jon. This gives him a total personal allowance of £13,040 and saves him £38 in tax (£1060 / 20% = £212)
It is important to note that spouses who earn closer to £11.850 and have less than £1,190 of unused personal allowance available can still share their leftover allowance - the tax saving will just be less. Once the process is set up, the spouse receiving the allowance will have their tax code altered to reflect the change.
How to Apply for the Marriage Allowance
You can register for the allowance via HMRC where you will be prompted to confirm both you and your partner’s identity via the online ‘Government Verify’ service. Higher rate payers and cohabitants are not eligible for the marriage allowance.
To register for the allowance visit - https://www.gov.uk/marriage-allowance-guide/how-it-works.
If you require any further assistance or guidance on the marriage allowance, please contact Neill Staff.
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