# What is the Marriage Allowance?

> Quick answer · Last updated 6 April 2026

Canonical HTML: https://moneyguide.org.uk/answers/what-is-marriage-allowance/
Markdown mirror: https://moneyguide.org.uk/answers/what-is-marriage-allowance.md

## In short

A way for a non-taxpayer spouse to transfer £1,260 of unused Personal Allowance to a basic-rate-paying partner, saving £252 a year.

Marriage Allowance lets one partner (the lower earner) transfer £1,260 of their Personal Allowance to the other (the higher earner). The higher earner gets a tax saving of £252 a year (£1,260 × 20%).

To qualify you must be married or in a civil partnership, the lower earner must earn under the Personal Allowance (£12,570 in 2026/27), and the higher earner must be a basic-rate taxpayer (earning up to £50,270).

You can backdate the claim by up to four tax years if you were eligible in those years. Apply free on gov.uk — never pay a third-party 'claim service' that charges a percentage commission.

## Related

- [Marriage Allowance calculator](https://moneyguide.org.uk/tools/marriage-allowance-calculator/)
- [Benefits & tax guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk/benefits-tax/)

## Primary source

gov.uk/marriage-allowance

---

Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.