Martin Lewis Urges Couples to Claim Up to £1,260 Marriage Tax Allowance Before Upcoming Deadline

Financial expert Martin Lewis has issued a timely reminder to married couples and civil partners about the opportunity to claim the marriage tax allowance, potentially saving them up to £1,260. This tax relief benefits couples when one partner is a non-taxpayer, allowing them to transfer a portion of their personal tax-free allowance to the partner who pays tax at the basic rate of 20%.

Mr Lewis explained that each individual has a personal allowance of £12,570, meaning they can earn this amount before paying income tax. When one partner earns less and does not use all of their allowance, they can transfer 10% of it to their spouse or civil partner. This transfer increases the recipient’s allowance to £13,830, resulting in a yearly tax saving of £252. Over time, this can add up to a substantial amount.

Importantly, couples who have never claimed the allowance can backdate their claim up to four tax years, including the current tax year, opening the door to a lump sum payment of up to £1,260. Eligible couples must ensure they apply before the 5 April tax year deadline to benefit from both current and retrospective claims.

Mr Lewis urged couples to act swiftly, highlighting that around 2.1 million eligible couples have yet to claim this money-saving allowance. He advised marking 1 March as a reminder to submit their applications via the government’s official channels, noting that claims can be made online or by post.

This tax break is especially valuable for couples where one partner either does not work or earns less than the personal allowance threshold, increasing their household income without additional earnings. Despite its simplicity and clear financial benefits, many eligible couples miss out, potentially leaving thousands of pounds unclaimed.

With the deadline approaching, Martin Lewis encourages couples to take advantage of this straightforward process to secure their entitled tax savings before 5 April.