Simple Guide to Claiming a Marriage Tax Rebate in 2024

Written by Contance Furge

What’s this guide about? If you’re married or in a civil partnership (even for just part of the last four years), you might be able to get a tax break called the Marriage Tax Allowance. If you qualify, you could claim up to £1,256 in rebates. This guide is here to help you see if you’re eligible and show you how to get any money you might have missed out on.

How to claim the rebate?

You’ll need to fill out a form from HMRC to get the Marriage Tax rebate. The application is free, but figuring out if you qualify and going through the process can be tricky for some. It may take a few weeks or even months for HMRC to let you know if you’re successful.

If you’d prefer not to handle it yourself or just want to save time, we work with a partner who can take care of it all for you. You’ll just need to provide them with some simple details, and they’ll manage everything from start to finish. They do charge a fee, but only after they secure your rebate – so there is nothing to pay upfront.

If you meet these conditions and have done so any time since 2019, you can apply for a rebate for the last four years until April 5, 2024.

Who qualifies for a Marriage Tax Rebate?

You may qualify if you:

  • Are married or in a civil partnership (unfortunately, just living together or having kids together doesn’t count).
  • Both of you are under 88 years old (if one partner was born before April 6, 1935, you may qualify for a different tax break).
  • One partner is a non-taxpayer, earning less than the personal allowance (usually £12,570), ideally £11,310 or less.
  • The other partner is a basic-rate taxpayer, meaning they earn between £12,571 and £50,270 (or £43,662 if in Scotland).
  • You can still qualify if one of you is retired and receiving a pension.

Complex situations

Some cases may be more complicated, such as if you live abroad or your partner has passed away. In these instances, you can still claim but will likely need extra help from HMRC. You can contact them through their helpline for more guidance: 0300 200 3300 (or +44 135 535 9022 if you’re abroad).

Key things to know before claiming

There are a few extra things to keep in mind:

  1. Income limits: If both partners are near the income thresholds, it’s important to double-check if you’ll actually benefit. If the lower earner is making over £11,310, you may not gain as much from the tax break.
  2. Tax-free earnings: Sometimes, the amount you can earn tax-free may be different from the usual £12,570. This can happen if you have a company car, owe taxes, or get interest from savings. Be sure to check your tax code to confirm your personal allowance.
  3. Higher earners: If the higher-earning partner is just above the basic tax rate, they won’t qualify for the Marriage Tax Allowance. However, they might consider increasing pension contributions to lower their income and become eligible for the tax break.

You can only claim for the years when you and your partner met all the criteria.

How to make a claim

If you think you qualify for a Marriage Tax rebate, here are the ways to apply:

  1. Online: The quickest way is to apply through the gov.uk website. If you do it this way, HMRC says it usually takes around two weeks to process.
  2. By post: You can also fill out a form and mail it to HMRC. This process takes longer – about 24 to 29 working days.
  3. By phone: You can call HMRC at 0300 200 3300 and apply over the phone.
  4. Self-assessment: If you have already filed self-assessment tax returns, you can claim through that process, too.

You’ll need some personal details, both your National Insurance numbers, and two forms of ID (like a passport or driving license).

Tips for claiming

  • If applying online, you’ll need to use your Government Gateway ID. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to create an account and verify your identity.
  • Make sure to select the option to backdate your claim for previous years when applying.
  • If eligible, you’ll get the tax break every year going forward, so no need to reapply.
  • If you’re unsure about anything, you can call HMRC for help.

How will you get your rebate?

If you’re claiming for this tax year, the higher earner’s tax code will be adjusted so they pay less tax each month. If you’re claiming for previous years, you’ll get a refund either by bank transfer or cheque.

Want an easier way to claim?

We hope this guide has made things clearer. But if you still find it tricky or just don’t want to go through the process on your own, you can use our trusted partner. They’ll handle the entire process for you in under two minutes—just give them some basic details, and they’ll take care of the rest.