Married Persons Allowance - what should I do?

Rosie1978

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me?

I recently found out that you are supposed to tell HMRC when you get married. I genuinely didn't know this and have been married for 5 years. I'd like to claim Married Persons Allowance (or whatever it is called) as I am the higher earner.

However - I'm worried I will get in trouble for not having told them. All my payslips, P60s etc have Mrs on them but I haven't expressly told them. CouldI get fined? I feel so stupid.

I'm in a difficult situation and without going into too much detail, if I were to receive a large fine, this would push us under and for various reasons, its my salary keeping us afloat anyway.

Any advice?

antonic

This is from the HMRC website

Who can claim Married Couple's Allowance?

If you were married before 5 December 2005

If you are married and living together and at least one spouse was born before 6 April 1935, the husband can claim Married Couple's Allowance. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) reduces your tax bill by 10 per cent of the Married Couple's Allowance to which you're entitled. The actual amount depends on the husband's income.
If you married on or after 5 December 2005 or are in a civil partnership

If you are married or in a civil partnership and living together and at least one spouse or partner was born before 6 April 1935, the person with the higher income can claim Married Couple's Allowance.
HMRC reduce the claimant's tax bill by 10 per cent of the Married Couple's Allowance to which he or she is entitled. The actual amount depends on the income of the spouse or civil partner with the higher income.
If one of you dies, or if you divorce or separate, you'll still get Married Couple's Allowance for the whole of that tax year.


http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/married-allow.htm


Does it apply to you ?

McKneff

You have been misinformed. There is no such thing as Married Persons Allowance, This was stopped many years ago.

Each person whether married or single has their own personal allowance each year.

So there is nothing to claim back.

And more importantly, nothing to worry about:D:j:j:j

Rosie1978

So it appears I am a huge dingbat then - I actually read the website but my brain chose not to register the fact that you had to have been born before 1935.
Phew - thats a weight off!!! Thank you!

margaretclare

Yes, people like myself and DH still get it, but only because he was born before April 1935. It was originally for married men because they had to 'support a wife'. We're allowed to split it between us as we each have taxable pensions income. For a higher earner it would be useful, as whichever spouse is the higher earner would be able to request the lion's share, but as has been said, not if you were born after April 1935.

PlutoinCapricorn

I think it stopped around 2000, but there is talk that it might be re-instated.