Two million couples missing out on tax break – HMRC
1 min read
Nearly half the couples eligible for a marriage tax break have failed to make a claim, HMRC has revealed.
The tax allowance, which is worth £230 a year, has only been claimed by 2.2 million married couples when 4.4 million are eligible.
Introduced in 2015, the tax allowance can be claimed by married couples and civil partners who meet certain conditions.
HMRC has simplified the claiming process and the number of couples claiming has doubled from 2015.
Steve Webb, the director of policy at Royal London, said the take-up was "shockingly low".
"When family finances are so tight, I would encourage every married couple to check whether they might be eligible, including for the last two years, as they could qualify for a useful lump sum as well as a reduction in their ongoing tax bill," he said.
Married couples where one partner pays 20% tax on their salary are eligible, with the other partner earning under £11,500.
HMRC has organised several advertising campaigns to persuade people to apply for marriage allowance and is known to be frustrated by the lack of take-up.
"Applications have increased year on year, and the application process is easy, and families can apply at a time which is convenient for them," a spokesperson said.
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