Katie Elliott urges married couples to act now (Image: Getty )
If you’re married and have a partner with an annual income lower than £12,570, you could be missing out on a tax perk worth hundreds of pounds per year. While marriage isn’t supposed to be sold on the basis of financial benefits, it does come with an awful lot of tax advantages, and the Marriage Allowance is one of the easiest to claim. Yet, millions of eligible couples are thought to be foregoing it every year.
The Marriage Allowance allows the lower-earning partner to transfer part of their unused personal allowance to their spouse or civil partner, reducing the other partner’s tax bill by up to £252 a year.
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To qualify, one person must earn below the personal allowance threshold, while the other must be a basic-rate taxpayer earning under £50,270 a year. Higher-rate taxpayers do not qualify. If you meet the criteria, the lower earner can transfer up to £1,260 of their allowance to their partner. You can find out how much you could save as a couple using the Marriage Allowance calculator on the Government website.
One of the biggest missed opportunities is that the allowance can be backdated. Couples can claim for up to four previous tax years, provided they met the eligibility rules at that time. That means some households could be sitting on a refund worth more than £1,000. If both of you have no income other than your wages, the person who earns the least should make the claim.
However, if either partner receives additional income, such as savings interest or dividends, it may be worth checking who should apply. You can call the Income Tax helpline on 0300 200 3300 if you’re unsure. You can apply through HMRC’s online service, and it usually takes just a few minutes. You can also apply by filling out a self-assessment tax return. Any repayment is typically paid directly to the higher earner.
If your partner has died since April 5, 2021, you might still be able to make a claim. In these cases, the person responsible for managing the deceased partner’s tax affairs will need to contact HMRC by phone.
Once set up, the allowance usually renews automatically each year, but it’s still worth checking regularly, particularly if income levels fluctuate.
If the lower earner starts earning above the personal allowance threshold or the higher earner moves into the higher-rate tax band, the benefit can be withdrawn and may need to be repaid. While the allowance is unlikely to transform your finances, it remains one of the relatively simple ways to legally cut your tax bill. For many, it’s money waiting to be claimed.
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When you have a birthday, a host of shops and restaurants want in on the celebrations, offering a growing list of freebies and discounts to lure you through the door. From free coffees and cakes to meals and discount vouchers, here’s a round-up of a few deals you can take advantage of.
Kicking off with the coffee shops, if you have the Cafe Nero app, you can claim a free slice of cake on your birthday (or in the 14 days after it). Costa Coffee and Gail’s Bakery offer similar perks, with app users granted free sweet treats of any kind, including cakes and pastries.
Moving on to restaurants, those partial to Italian cuisine can pick up a free bottle of prosecco on their birthday at Prezzo, or two desserts, if they spend a minimum of £25. Sign up for the Prezzo newsletter to qualify.
Zizzi and Harvester give people free main meals on their birthday, as long as one other main meal is purchased. Sign up for the Zizzi’s Zillionaire’s Club loyalty scheme and Harvester’s newsletter to qualify. Pizza Express offers app users a free dessert, pizza, or bottle of wine, depending on their loyalty tier, if they spend at least £10 in one order.
Supermarkets are also gifting a few nice freebies. M&S shoppers with the Sparks app can pick up a free boxed cake or pack of grapes, while Lidl Plus loyalty app users can bag a free doughnut from its renowned bakery section.
You can also get free doughnuts at Greggs and Krispy Kreme if you download their reward apps. The Body Shop and Hotel Chocolate usually offer a £5 discount to loyalty scheme users, while shoppers at Rituals can bag a free £12 product if they sign up for the free ‘My Rituals’ club and buy at least one other product.
Boots offers Advantage Card users can claim double points on their birthdays, while Superdrug’s Health and Beauty Card shoppers are rewarded with an undisclosed “surprise!”