Marriage Allowance - How do I claim the tax back if marrying next week?

Tunstallstoven

Hi all

I made a thread a while back about getting married and Marriage Allowance:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6328220/how-long-do-you-have-to-be-married-for-to-benefit-from-marriage-tax-allowance/p1

Well, we're all booked in for next week.  I've earned over my tax allowance for 2021/22, but my partner is under her allowance.  So from what I understand, I can nab a bit of her allowance, which amounts in cash terms to around £250.  

Is that totally automatic or will I need to do something?  If it is automatic, how does it happen?  A rebate cheque?  A refund in 2022/2023 to cover the "overpayment"?  Or ???  

If anyone could explain it would be most appreciated.

Many thanks

Alter_ego

Normally done by adjusting tax codes. Your wife needs to apply to HMRC

Tunstallstoven

Steady on - she's not my wife yet   

OK, so she applies to HMRC.  But I don't need to?  

Also, I can see that the tax code gets adjusted, but by that point we'll be in a new financial year.  What about the tax for 2021/2022?  

Many thanks for the quick reply.

Alter_ego

Will she be your wife in this tax year she can't claim until she is. You may need to confirm that you are willing to accept, do it by phone when you are both around (and married)

Alter_ego

Will she be your wife in this tax year she can't claim until she is. You may need to confirm that you are willing to accept, do it by phone when you are both around (and married)

Dazed_and_C0nfused

OK, so she applies to HMRC. But I don't need to?  

You cannot claim Marriage Allowance, only the person agreeing to a lower Personal Allowance can apply.

Otherwise you could claim it (once married) and in some situations deliberately give your spouse a tax bill to pay, say for example she earned £20k.

Any tax refund due for 2021:22 will be dealt with automatically in the summer (ish).  Assuming your wife has applied by then and you are both eligible.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-overpayments-and-underpayments

sheramber

Once married your wife can elect to transfer 10% of her personal allowance to you- no more and no less.

If the transfer in actioned after 5 April then HMRC will make any refund due when they get round to checking the previous years  tax - which could be anytime up to  around October/November.

Note, once given the transfer will automatically be continued to the following years until it is cancelled or you are no longer entitled to receive the allowance. e.g you are a hIgher rate taxpayer.

Tunstallstoven

Thanks for the explanations and clarifications, that's all really helpful.  We'll get on the case straight after "the big day".  

Cheers