Marriage Allowance Calculator
A £252-a-year tax break that a third of eligible couples never claim — check your household in ten seconds, claim it free from HMRC (never through a claims firm), and see the plans to expand it.
Your household
Free money most eligible couples never claim
HMRC estimates hundreds of thousands of eligible couples don't claim Marriage Allowance — a transfer of £1,260 of unused personal allowance from a lower earner to a basic-rate partner, worth up to £252 a year and backdatable four years (£1,260 total). The unclaimed pot has spawned an industry of "tax rebate" firms taking 40–50% commission for a form that takes ten minutes on gov.uk. Politically, the allowance is a live lever: Reform UK's tax plan includes a much larger transferable Marriage Allowance — in effect letting a single-earner couple shelter up to £25,000 tax-free — part of its case that the tax system should recognise households, not just individuals.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for Marriage Allowance?
Married couples and civil partners where one partner earns under £12,570 (so has unused allowance) and the other pays basic-rate tax (£12,571–£50,270). Both cohabiting and higher-rate-taxpayer couples are excluded.
How much is Marriage Allowance worth?
Up to £252 a year, and claims can be backdated four tax years — so a first claim can be worth over £1,250. It renews automatically once claimed.
Is it safe to use a marriage tax refund company?
It's legal but almost never worth it — they charge up to 50% commission for submitting the same free gov.uk form. Always claim directly from HMRC.