Apply for Marriage Allowance online

Marriage Allowance lets you transfer £1,260 of your Personal Allowance to your husband, wife or civil partner. It’s free to apply for Marriage Allowance.

This can reduce their tax by up to £252 every tax year (6 April to 5 April the next year).

To benefit as a couple, you need to earn less than your partner and have an income of £12,570 or less. Your partner’s income must be between £12,571 and £50,270 (£43,662 in Scotland) for you to be eligible.

You can backdate your claim to include any tax year since 5 April 2019 that you were eligible for Marriage Allowance. If your partner has since died you can still claim - phone the Income Tax helpline.

If at least one of you was born before 6 April 1935, you might pay less tax as a couple by applying for the Married Couple’s Allowance instead of Marriage Allowance.

This service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Before you apply

To use this service, you’ll need your National Insurance number and your partner’s National Insurance number.

If you have come to the UK and you do not plan to work or study, you cannot get a National Insurance number. Phone the Income Tax helpline to apply for Marriage Allowance.

You’ll need to sign in using your Government Gateway user ID and password.

You’ll have to prove your identity to register for Government Gateway if you have not used it before.

You can use your National Insurance number or postcode and 2 of the following:

  • a valid UK passport
  • a UK photocard driving licence issued by the DVLA (or DVA in Northern Ireland)
  • a payslip from the last 3 months or a P60 from your employer for the last tax year
  • details of a tax credit claim if you made one
  • details from a Self Assessment tax return if you made one
  • information held on your credit record if you have one (such as loans, credit cards or mortgages)

Apply online

The quickest way to apply for Marriage Allowance is online. You’ll get an email confirming your application within 24 hours.

Start now

Other ways to apply

If you cannot apply online, you can apply for Marriage Allowance: