In this section:
The age-related Married Couple's Allowance is an amount that is taken off your tax bill - so it only applies if you pay tax. If you don't pay tax, or if your tax bill isn't high enough to use up all of your Married Couple's Allowance, you can transfer any unused allowance to your spouse or civil partner if they pay tax.
On this page:
If you are married and living together and at least one spouse was born before 6 April 1935, the husband can claim Married Couple's Allowance. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) reduce your tax bill by 10 per cent of the Married Couple's Allowance to which you're entitled. The actual amount depends on the husband's income.
If one of you dies, or if you divorce or separate, you'll get Married Couple's Allowance for the whole of that tax year.
If you are married or in a civil partnership and living together and at least one spouse or partner was born before 6 April 1935, the person with the higher income can claim Married Couple's Allowance.
HMRC reduce the claimant's tax bill by 10 per cent of the Married Couple's Allowance to which he or she is entitled. The actual amount depends on the income of the spouse or civil partner with the higher income.
In the year that you marry or form a civil partnership, HMRC reduce your entitlement to Married Couple's Allowance by one twelfth for each complete tax month before the date of your marriage or civil partnership. For example if you married or formed a civil partnership on 24 March, you would only receive one twelfth, or one month's worth, of the allowance for that tax year. If one of you dies, or the marriage or civil partnership dissolves or you separate, you'll get the Married Couple's Allowance you are due for that tax year.
The maximum amount of Married Couple's Allowance is £7,295 and the minimum amount is £2,800 for the 2011-12 tax year. You receive 10 per cent of the allowance amount - which means your tax saving (based on a full year's eligibility) is at least £280 and up to £729.50. The actual amount depends on the claimant's income - as explained below.
Check Income Tax allowances and income limits for 2012-13
If your income is over £24,000 (before any allowances in 2011-12 tax year) HMRC will reduce the Married Couple's Allowance in the same way that your age-related Personal Allowance can be reduced.
The amount of the reduction is worked out as follows:
You're 76, entitled to Married Couple's Allowance and have income before allowances of £29,600. HMRC subtract the income limit (£24,000) from your income before allowances (£29,600) - this shows that you're £5,600 over the limit. HMRC take half of this (£2,800) off your allowances like this:
This is the amount by which HMRC will reduce your tax bill.
To claim Married Couple's Allowance you simply telephone or write to HMRC giving details of your marriage/civil partnership ceremony and spouse/civil partner (including date of birth). If you fill in a Self Assessment tax return HMRC will ask you to include details of your Married Couple's Allowance claim.
Do you need to complete a tax return?
If you don't pay tax, or if your tax bill isn't high enough to use up all of your Married Couple's Allowance, you can use form 575 Notice of transfer of surplus Income Tax allowances after the end of the tax year to transfer any unused allowance to your spouse or civil partner if they pay tax. You can't get a refund of any excess not used.
You can go to form 575 below. If you don't have access to a printer, you can ask HMRC to post one to you.
If you're making a claim for repayment of tax on a form R40 Tax Repayment you can also request form 575 by ticking the appropriate box.
Go to form 575 Notice of transfer of surplus Income Tax allowances
You can also decide to share the minimum Married Couple's Allowance between you or, if you both agree, you can elect to transfer the whole of the minimum Married Couple's Allowance to your spouse or civil partner (£2,800 for 2011-12). In this case you'll need to complete form 18 Transferring the Married Couple's Allowance (available from your Tax Office or below) before the start of the tax year.
Form 18 Transferring the Married Couple's Allowance
Follow the link below to read about Married Couple's Allowance rates for the tax year 2008-09.
Find out about Married Couple's Allowance rates for 2008-09
If you pay tax and give money to a UK charity using Gift Aid, it's important to let HMRC know as this has the effect of reducing your income when they calculate your age-related allowances. Find out more by reading the HMRC guide on Gift Aid.
Tax relief when giving to charity through Gift Aid
Income Tax rates and allowances
Do you have to pay tax in retirement?
