HMRC urges married couples to check eligibility for tax break worth up to £252

Married couples and civil partners across Britain are being urged to check whether they qualify for HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) marriage allowance.It could reduce their annual tax bill by up to £252.The tax break allows eligible couples to transfer part of one partner’s unused personal allowance to the other, helping reduce the amount of income tax paid by the household overall.Financial experts said the scheme could provide valuable support for couples managing household costs following marriage or civil partnership. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Clare Stinton, senior personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said awareness of the allowance remains limited despite the potential savings available.Ms Stinton said: “This time of year usually marks the start of wedding season.“But while wedding bells are ringing, fewer couples are saying ‘I do.’ More are choosing cohabitation, but skipping the aisle can be costly when it comes to money, tax and long-term financial security.”To qualify for the marriage allowance, one partner must earn less than the personal allowance threshold of £12,570 per year.The other partner must pay income tax at the basic rate, which applies to earnings between £12,571 and £50,270.Under the scheme, the lower-earning spouse or civil partner can transfer up to £1,260 of their unused personal allowance to their partner.This increases the recipient’s tax-free personal allowance from £12,570 to a maximum of £13,830.As a result, the higher-earning partner pays less income tax, creating a saving for the household overall.Couples who were eligible during previous tax years may also be able to increase their savings by backdating a claim.HMRC allows claims to be backdated for up to four tax years.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSHMRC warning as self-employed workers face £200 fines under new tax rulesMajor fashion brand collapses into administration as 75 jobs lost in rescue dealLloyds Bank issues major update about customers' cards and PIN numbersHMRC also provides an online calculator to help couples estimate how much they could save through the allowance.Experts noted that the spouse transferring part of their personal allowance may pay slightly more tax individually.However, the household overall still benefits from a lower combined tax bill.Marriage and civil partnership can also provide additional financial advantages beyond the marriage allowance itself.These include the ability to transfer certain assets between spouses without immediate tax consequences and the transfer of inherited nil-rate bands for inheritance tax purposes.Ms Stinton said marriage and civil partnership continue to offer legal and financial protections unavailable to unmarried couples.She said: “Tying the knot unlocks financial advantages - in particular, tax perks. Benefits that unmarried couples simply don't have access to, no matter how long they've lived together, regardless of shared bills, or whether they have children.”Ms Stinton added: “Being married - including civil partnership - in the eyes of the law, provides tax-free allowances, inheritance tax benefits and clearer rules around the division of assets for partners and any children, that cohabiting alone doesn't offer.” Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter