MSE News: Couples now able to register to shift tax allowance between spouses

carmina_piranha

teabythesea wrote: »

Thanks for that! :-)

I was under the understanding that this was introduced to promote married families, and enable a SAHM/D, I mean, I won't knock £17.66 a month, but it's not enough to do any kind of real benefit !!!

It will benefit lots of part time workers, not just SAHM/Ds.

I'm term time only and earn less than 9k per year so it will benefit me. My mum's cut down her hours at work, so it will benefit her. Okay it's not a massive amount, but would almost pay for swimming lessons for my kid :T

englandjeff

Some eligibility statements talk about 'income' ranges to be able to transfer the unused allowances and others talk about 'tax rates being paid'. If it weren't for the Gift Aid donations I make I would be paying tax at 40% as my 'income' is otherwise marginally into the 40% tax range. But I am making sufficient Gift Aid donations to make all my tax payable at 20%. Having made those donations can my spouse now transfer her surplus allowances to me?

frodob

I have a major concern with regard to this new opportunity - that it may lead either my wife or I into filling in annual tax returns which we currently avoid due to being happily established under PAYE and not in regular contact with HMRC. My wife is in receipt of state pension only which leaves her with unused allowance whereas I have an occupational pension which is taxed. Naturally the idea of a reduction of 212 p.a. in tax is of interest to us both but not if it involves either of us in completing annual forms for a relatively small return.


All I can gather from websites (generally written before April) were many opinions on how HMRC MIGHT actually arrange matters. Now the procedure still seems to be to complete a form requesting advice from HMRC when the option was available. Since the option should by now be available I would have hoped by now someone who has registered their interest might be able to advise me what actually happens next and whether as feared this does involve more dreaded forms.

carmina_piranha

I don't think it's open yet. Here's what my update email said:

Hello Carmina Piranha

Thank you for taking the time to register for Marriage Allowance. This new allowance starts from April, and you will be one of the first couples to be invited to apply online. We will send you an email when the application system is up and running, and give you all the information you'll need.

To apply for Marriage Allowance online, you will need to confirm your identity through the Government's 'Verify' service. For this you'll need a valid UK passport or UK photocard driving licence, along with information about your finances such as a recent credit card or mortgage statement.

This email is just to keep you up to date, so there is no need to contact us.

ETA: Sent on March 30th, nothing else since.

frodob

carmina_piranha wrote: »

I don't think it's open yet. Here's what my update email said:

Hello Carmina Piranha

Thank you for taking the time to register for Marriage Allowance. This new allowance starts from April, and you will be one of the first couples to be invited to apply online. We will send you an email when the application system is up and running, and give you all the information you'll need.

To apply for Marriage Allowance online, you will need to confirm your identity through the Government's 'Verify' service. For this you'll need a valid UK passport or UK photocard driving licence, along with information about your finances such as a recent credit card or mortgage statement.

This email is just to keep you up to date, so there is no need to contact us.

ETA: Sent on March 30th, nothing else since.

Thanks Carmina,


Why am I not surprised? I see from other advice that one can apply much later, but I was hoping for a simple change of codes in advance rather than a retrospective adjustment, which is much more likely to involve dreaded form filling. Anyway I will keep watching this thread and hopefully in due course all will become clear.

littlesprinkles

So, was meant to go live on the 6th April, still nothing. Very annoying.

zygurat789

littlesprinkles wrote: »

So, was meant to go live on the 6th April, still nothing. Very annoying.

It went live from 6 April 2015.
It is also highly unlikely to result in a tax return having to be completed because HMRC staff already have more than they can cope with

molerat

I see they have new tax code suffixes for this, N & M for the donor and recipient.

benniebert

carmina_piranha wrote: »

I don't think it's open yet. Here's what my update email said:

Hello Carmina Piranha

Thank you for taking the time to register for Marriage Allowance. This new allowance starts from April, and you will be one of the first couples to be invited to apply online. We will send you an email when the application system is up and running, and give you all the information you'll need.

To apply for Marriage Allowance online, you will need to confirm your identity through the Government's 'Verify' service. For this you'll need a valid UK passport or UK photocard driving licence, along with information about your finances such as a recent credit card or mortgage statement.

This email is just to keep you up to date, so there is no need to contact us.

ETA: Sent on March 30th, nothing else since.

Neither have I. No doubt it will be a 'reclaim after the 5th April 2016' situation.


Thanks for the info on the verification system - looks like major problems for us.
Neither of us has ever had a passport, never saw the need for one.
Neither of us has a card type driving licence. The ones we hold are falling apart - issued in the late 70's I believe at an address that we last lived at in 1981. Besides which my wife's has run out as she was 70 last year.


On top of that we haven't had a mortgage for many years and have never had a credit card either - we do have a couple of debit cards though.
Looks like it will have to be done the SA route next year.

zygurat789

benniebert wrote: »

Neither have I. No doubt it will be a 'reclaim after the 5th April 2016' situation.


Thanks for the info on the verification system - looks like major problems for us.
Neither of us has ever had a passport, never saw the need for one.
Neither of us has a card type driving licence. The ones we hold are falling apart - issued in the late 70's I believe at an address that we last lived at in 1981. Besides which my wife's has run out as she was 70 last year.


On top of that we haven't had a mortgage for many years and have never had a credit card either - we do have a couple of debit cards though.
Looks like it will have to be done the SA route next year.

That's a fine of up to £1,000.
Once you are 69 and 9 months driving licences can be renewed free, but you do need a photo unless you have a passport photo to uplift.
Sometimes it is beneficial to be able to prove who you are.