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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Business
Kate Lally

Martin Lewis fan claims back £800 after taking ITV show tip

A Martin Lewis fan has shared how he and his wife clawed back £800 from the Government after taking a tip he saw on TV.

Mr Lewis continues to provide financial advice as people across the UK struggle to cope with the cost of living crisis. The Money Saving Expert founder frequently shares tips on shows such as Money Show Live, and has this more recently began a regular hosting slot on Good Morning Britain.

In a weekly email to MSE subscribers on Tuesday, Mr Lewis revealed how a fan of his managed to claim back hundreds of pounds after following his advice.

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The man, named Lawrence, said: "We got back £800 via the marriage tax allowance as my wife doesn't pay tax. I heard Martin talking about the marriage tax allowance on TV.

"As my wife only has a small NHS pension and works two days a week, she doesn't earn enough to pay tax. I do, and I heard Martin say if my wife gave me some of her tax allowance, I'd pay less tax and could backdate my claim. We went online and got back £800, so a massive thank you."

What is the marriage tax allowance?

The marriage tax allowance allows you to transfer £1,260 of your personal allowance (the amount you can earn tax-free each tax year) to your spouse or civil partner if they earn more than you. If your claim is successful, it will lower the higher earner's tax bill for the tax year, but you can also backdate your claim if eligible.

You can apply here at the Gov.uk website. If you're eligible and apply successfully, you'll also automatically get the tax break each year going forward – so no need to keep reapplying.

Who is eligible?

  • You need to be married or in a civil partnership. Just living together doesn't count.
  • One of you needs to be a non-taxpayer. This usually means you'll earn less than the £12,570 personal allowance between April 6, 2022 and April 5, 2023.
  • The other partner needs to be a basic 20% rate taxpayer. This means you'd normally need to earn less than £50,270, or if you live in Scotland, £43,662. Higher or additional-rate taxpayers aren't eligible for this allowance.
  • You both must have been born on or after 6 April 1935.

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