Guides › Public Services › Marriage Allowance: Save Up to £252 and Backdate 4 Years
Marriage Allowance: Save up to £252 and Backdate 4 Years
Marriage Allowance lets you transfer £1,260 of your Personal Allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner, cutting their tax by up to £252 a tax year. Your income must be below £12,570 and lower than your partner's, and their income must be under £50,270. You can also claim for up to 4 previous years. It is free to apply on GOV.UK.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
How It Works
Who Can Claim
You must be married or in a civil partnership. Your income must be below £12,570 and lower than your partner's, and your partner's income must be under £50,270. In Scotland your partner must pay the starter, basic or intermediate rate. source
How Much
You can transfer £1,260 of your Personal Allowance. This can reduce your partner's tax by up to £252 a tax year. source
Backdating and Applying
You can apply for up to 4 previous years (by post for earlier years). You need your partner's National Insurance number and the date of your marriage or civil partnership. If either of you was born before 6 April 1935, Married Couple's Allowance may be better. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 4 yearsBackdate a claimPrevious tax years
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check both your incomes against the limits.
Step 2 of 5
The lower earner applies on GOV.UK.
Step 3 of 5
Ask to backdate for earlier years.
Step 4 of 5
Tell HMRC if your circumstances change.
Step 5 of 5
Do not pay a company: it is free.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
HMRC
Contact HMRC through your personal tax account, the HMRC app or the phone and post details on GOV.UK.
Your Personal Tax Account
Sign in on GOV.UK to check your tax code, income and letters.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
The lower earner makes the application, not the partner who gets the tax cut.
Scotland has its own Income Tax rates and bands. The rules on returns, penalties and HMRC complaints apply across the UK.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- tax.service.gov.uk/marriage-allowance-application/how-it-works Checked 15 October 2026