Marriage Allowance Question
Tuesday March 2020
Q. I work part time and don’t earn enough to pay tax, but my husband earns £35,000 a year from his full time job. I have been told that I can transfer some of my personal allowances to my husband so he can save some income tax. Is this true?
A.Claiming the marriage allowance can save married couples or civil partners up to £250 in 2019/20, but it is estimated that more than 2 million couples are missing out.
The allowance was introduced from 6 April 2015, and enables married couples or civil partners to transfer £1,250 of personal allowance (2019/20 rate) from one spouse or partner to the other, provided that the recipient does not pay tax at a rate higher than basic rate.
To process a claim, HMRC will need the national insurance numbers for each spouse/civil partner. In addition, if the claim is made online or by phone, HMRC will have to check the identity of the person making the claim and will ask for information from the claimant such as the last four digits from bank accounts that any state benefits (such as pension or child benefit) are paid into or from bank accounts that pay interest. Alternatively HMRC may ask for information from employment such as information contained on a P60 (the form given to all employees at the end of a tax year).
A claim may be backdated, which means a couple claiming before 5 April 2020 could receive up to £1,150.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/spoil-your-loved-one-with-hmrcs-valentines-day-cash-boost.
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