At the height of the wedding season, HM Revenue and Customs is reminding married couples and people in civil partnerships in Lanarkshire to put extra cash at the top of their gift list and sign up for Marriage Allowance.
The initiative allows married couples or people in civil partnerships, including those who have been together for many years, to share their personal tax allowances if one partner earns below the Personal Allowance threshold of £12,570, and the other is a basic rate taxpayer.
Eligible couples can transfer 10 per cent of their tax-free allowance to their partner, which is £1260 in 2022/23.
This means Lanarkshire couples can reduce the tax they pay by up to £252 a year.
They can apply any time and, if eligible, could backdate their claims for up to four previous tax years to receive a payment of up to £1,242.
Marriage Allowance is free to apply for, and customers are reminded to claim directly via HMRC’s online portal to ensure they receive 100 per cent of the tax relief they are eligible for.
Marriage Allowance is one of a number of benefits and reliefs available to boost family finances at a time when many are concerned with the rising cost of living.
Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s deputy chief executive and second permanent secretary, told Lanarkshire Live : "We want to ensure people are receiving vital financial support at a time when they need it most.
"Married couples, or those in a civil partnership, could potentially receive tax relief worth up to £1242, meaning extra cash in their pockets.
“To find out if you are eligible, and how to apply, search ‘Marriage Allowance’ on GOV.UK.”
More than two million couples currently benefit from Marriage Allowance, but there could be thousands more who are eligible to claim.
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