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.

Marriage Allowance Calculator 2026/27

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Annual saving

£252

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

2026/27 rates · Last checked May 2026 · Sources in page details

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 onlyShow

Calculations use HMRC published rates for education and illustration. They are not regulated financial, tax, or legal advice. Verify against your own tax position before filing or making financial decisions.

Background reading

Marriage Allowance explained

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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.

Privacy, sources & last reviewed1 March 2026 · Show

Privacy and independence

Built and maintained by Afterax as an independent educational UK tax calculator project. Calculations run in your browser using HMRC 2026/27 rates. Inputs can be saved on this device and included in share links.

Sources

Bands, thresholds and reliefs come from official sources and are checked when a Budget or in-year change is announced.

Last reviewed 1 March 2026 · updated for 2026/27 · view changelog →