Married couple as well as those who are in a civil partnership are being urged to check if they are entitled to tax relief from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The relief could be worth up to £252 per year, with HMRC taking to social media to remind people to claim the financial support where possible.
Marriage allowance allows people to share their Personal Tax Allowance when one partner earns less than the threshold - £12,750 - and the other is a basic rate taxpayer - someone who pays 20 per cent tax on income above the personal allowance amount. And the support could be worth over a £1,000 for some couples, with those who have been married for years still able to qualify.
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Eligible couples can transfer 10 per cent of their tax-free allowance to their significant other, which will in turn reduce the amount of tax they are paying each year by £252. Claims can be made at any point throughout the year, with couples also able to apply for backdated payments throughout the previous four tax years. This means support of up to £1,242 may be issued to some couples.
Claims can be made directly on HMRC's online portal on GOV.UK.
In a recent post on Twitter, HMRC said: "If you’re married or in a civil partnership, you could be missing out on up to £252 in tax relief every year.
"Make sure you're claiming all of the benefits and tax reliefs you're eligible for - check the government's Help for Households website."
Backdated Marriage Allowance payments amounts
- 2022/23 - £252
- 2021/22 - £252
- 2020/21 - £250
- 2019/20 - £250
- 2018/19 - £238
More than two million couples across the country currently benefit from Marriage Allowance, with many potentially eligible for the financial help as the cost of living crisis continues.
Couples may become eligible later in their marriage or civil partnership if circumstances change.
For example, couples may become newly eligible if:
- One partner retiring and the other remaining in work
- A change in employment
- A reduction in working hours which means their earnings fall below their Personal Allowance
- Maternity, paternity, or shared parental leave
- Unpaid leave or a career break
- One partner studying or in education and not earning above their Personal Allowance
Additionally, if a spouse or civil partner has passed away since April 5, 2018, the surviving person may also be able to claim by con
HMRC also said that if a spouse or civil partner has died since April 5, 2018, the surviving person can still claim by contacting the Income Tax helpline.
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