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Marriage allowance

Marriage allowance

Annual saving

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£252

The full £252 benefit. Apply free at gov.uk/marriage-allowance.

2026/27 rates · Last checked · Sources visible below

How it works

Lower earner gives up

£1,260

of personal allowance

Higher earner saves

£252

extra income at 0%

Backdate up to

4 years

if you were eligible then

Apply

The lower earner makes the claim, free, online at gov.uk/marriage-allowance. It auto-renews each year unless your circumstances change.

Estimates for illustrative and educational purposes only. Calculations use HMRC published rates and are not regulated financial, tax, or legal advice. Verify against your own tax position before filing or making financial decisions.

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Marriage Allowance explained

A small but free win for many couples. The lower earner transfers £1,260 of their unused personal allowance to the higher earner, who saves 20% × £1,260 = £252 per year. Eligibility is straightforward: married or civil partners, lower earner under the personal allowance, higher earner a basic-rate taxpayer.

  • What is Marriage Allowance worth?

    Up to £252 per year for the household. The lower-earning spouse or civil partner transfers £1,260 of their personal allowance to the higher earner, who saves 20% × £1,260 = £252.

  • Am I eligible for Marriage Allowance?

    You're married or in a civil partnership. The lower earner has income under £12,570 (or doesn't use all of their allowance). The higher earner is a basic-rate taxpayer (under £50,270 in England/Wales/NI; under £43,662 in Scotland, i.e. starter, basic or intermediate rate).

  • How do I claim Marriage Allowance?

    Apply free at gov.uk/marriage-allowance. The lower earner makes the claim. You can backdate the claim up to 4 tax years if you were eligible then, that's potentially £1,000+ of refund.

  • Does Marriage Allowance cancel if my circumstances change?

    Yes, if you separate, divorce, or one of you starts paying higher rate tax, you should cancel it. Otherwise it auto-renews each tax year.

Sources & last reviewed

Updated for 2026/27 · last reviewed 1 March 2026 · view changelog →

Bands, thresholds and reliefs on this page come directly from the following official sources. Tax rates are checked against these references whenever a Budget or in-year change is announced.