What is the Marriage Allowance in the UK?

Marriage Allowance allows you to transfer £1,260 of your Personal Allowance to your spouse or civil partner. This can reduce their tax bill by up to £252 per year. The allowance was increased from £1,250 in 2024 to £1,260 in 2025/26. You must be married or in a civil partnership and neither partner can be a higher rate taxpayer.

Who can claim Marriage Allowance in the UK?

You can claim Marriage Allowance if: you're married or in a civil partnership, one partner earns less than the Personal Allowance (£12,570), and the other partner is a basic rate taxpayer (income between £12,571-£50,270). Higher rate taxpayers cannot claim. You can backdate claims for up to 4 years.

How much can I save with Marriage Allowance?

Marriage Allowance saves the higher-earning partner up to £252 per year (20% of £1,260). If you backdate for 4 years, you could save up to £1,260. The lower-earning partner must have income below £12,570 to be eligible to transfer their allowance.

How do I apply for Marriage Allowance?

Apply online through the HMRC website or app. You need your National Insurance number, tax code, and your partner's details. You can also backdate claims for up to 4 previous tax years. The application takes about 10 minutes and is free.

Married Couple Allowance Calculator UK - Marriage Allowance Tax Savings

Detail	Value
Transferable Allowance	£1,260
Maximum Tax Saving	£252
Eligible Couples (UK)	4 million+
Current Claims	2.5 million
Unclaimed Allowance	£1B+

📝 Complete Guide to Marriage Allowance in the UK

This married couple allowance calculator UK helps you understand Marriage Allowance tax savings. Marriage Allowance allows you to transfer up to £1,260 of your Personal Allowance to your spouse or civil partner, potentially saving up to £252 per year in tax.

💰 What is Marriage Allowance?

Marriage Allowance is a UK tax relief that lets you transfer Personal Allowance between spouses:

Transfer Amount: £1,260 per tax year (2025/26)
Tax Saving: Up to £252 per year (20% of £1,260)
Eligibility: One partner earns below £12,570, other is basic rate taxpayer
Application: Free to apply via HMRC
Backdating: Can backdate claims for up to 4 years

📊 Who Can Claim Marriage Allowance?

Married or Civil Partnership: Legally married or in civil partnership
Income Threshold: One partner earns below Personal Allowance (£12,570)
Other Partner: Must be basic rate taxpayer (£12,571-£50,270)
Not Eligible: If either partner is higher or additional rate taxpayer
Multiple Claims: Can only claim once per tax year

📈 How Much Can You Save?

Current Year: Up to £252
Backdating 4 Years: Up to £1,260 total
Year 1 (2022/23): £250 (allowance £1,250)
Year 2 (2023/24): £252 (allowance £1,260)
Year 3 (2024/25): £252 (allowance £1,260)
Year 4 (2025/26): £252 (allowance £1,260)

💡 How to Apply for Marriage Allowance

Online: Apply through HMRC website
HMRC App: Quick application via the app
Backdating: You can backdate up to 4 years
Tax Code: Your tax code will change (e.g., 1257L to 1257M)
Confirmation: HMRC will confirm by letter
Annual Renewal: Must reapply each year

⚡ Marriage Allowance Statistics (2026)

4 million+ eligible couples
2.5 million currently claiming
1.5 million eligible but not claiming
£1B+ unclaimed allowance
Average saving: £200-£250 per year
Most claims made by couples aged 30-50

⚠️ Important Considerations

Higher Rate: Cannot claim if either partner is higher rate taxpayer
State Pension: State pension counts as income
Self-Employed: Income from self-employment counts
Rental Income: Property income counts
Dividend Income: Dividends count towards income
Marriage Allowance vs Married Couple Allowance: Different allowances

Married Couple Allowance Calculator UK

📊 Your Income Details

📊 Allowance Breakdown

📊 Marriage Allowance Facts (2026)