Enter both incomes — the calculator works out who should transfer the allowance and the saving for your household.
Household Marriage Allowance saving £252 per year. Worth claiming. Your partner saves the full £252 and you pay no extra tax, so your household saves about £252 a year.
Your household, side by side
| Lower earner (you, £8,000) transfers £1,260 | |
| Combined income tax — without Marriage Allowance | £4,486.00 |
| Combined income tax — with Marriage Allowance | £4,234.00 |
| — Higher earner's tax saving | −£252.00 |
| Household saving per year | £252.00 |
Marriage Allowance lets the lower earner transfer £1,260 of their Personal Allowance, giving the higher earner up to £252 less tax (2026/27). It only helps when the lower earner doesn't use all their allowance and the higher earner is a basic-rate taxpayer. You can also backdate a claim up to four earlier tax years, so a first claim can be worth over £1,000.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a couple save with Marriage Allowance?
Up to £252 a year for 2026/27. The lower earner transfers £1,260 of their Personal Allowance to the higher earner, who then pays up to £252 less tax (20% of £1,260). You can also backdate a claim up to four earlier tax years, so a first claim can be worth over £1,000 as a lump sum.
Who should transfer the allowance?
The partner with the lower income transfers to the partner with the higher income. It works best when the lower earner’s income is below the £12,570 Personal Allowance (so they aren’t using all of it) and the higher earner is a basic-rate taxpayer.
When is Marriage Allowance not worth it?
It does not help if the higher earner is a higher or additional-rate taxpayer (they can’t receive it), or if neither partner pays tax. If the lower earner earns between £11,310 and £12,570 they may start paying a little tax, which reduces — but usually does not wipe out — the household saving. This calculator shows the net figure.
Does it work differently in Scotland?
The transfer amount and the maximum saving are the same, but to receive Marriage Allowance in Scotland the higher earner must pay the starter, basic or intermediate rate of Scottish Income Tax. Select Scotland above to use the Scottish bands.
How do we claim Marriage Allowance?
The partner who is transferring the allowance applies free of charge on GOV.UK. Once set up, HMRC changes both tax codes (an N suffix for the transferor, M for the recipient) and it renews automatically each year. Never pay a third-party service to claim it for you.
Related calculators & guides
Sources — official UK figures
A simplified estimate using 2026/27 rates. It assumes both partners' figures are taxable income and that you are married or in a civil partnership. It does not model dividend or savings income interactions, the blind person's allowance, or other reliefs. Only one partner can transfer the allowance, and the recipient must be a basic-rate taxpayer (starter/basic/intermediate in Scotland). Claim free of charge through GOV.UK — never pay a third party.