The tax benefits of marriage: 4 ways that marriage can reduce your tax bill

Key Takeaways

• Marriage can lower various taxes such as income, capital gains, and inheritance tax.
• The Marriage Allowance allows transfer of unused allowances between spouses.
• Financial benefits include tax savings and pension continuation.

What are the main tax saving benefits of marriage in the UK?

Another advantage is the ability to transfer assets between spouses without incurring capital gains tax. Additionally, married couples and civil partners can benefit from reduced inheritance tax rates, further supporting your financial well-being.

Understanding the Marriage Allowance

Marriage Allowance can be a useful way to reduce your income tax as a couple. If one partner is a lower earner, they can transfer part of their unused Personal Allowance to the other partner, potentially saving money.

Eligibility Criteria for Marriage Allowance

To qualify for Marriage Allowance, you need to be married or in a civil partnership. Just living together doesn’t count. One partner must be a non-taxpayer, meaning their income is less than £12,570. The other partner needs to be a basic-rate taxpayer.

Applying for Marriage Allowance

You can apply for Marriage Allowance through the HMRC website. The application process is straightforward. You’ll need both your details and your partner’s National Insurance numbers and proof of identity.

Once you’ve applied, HMRC will alter your tax code and that of your partner. The lower earner’s tax code will end in ”˜N’ and the higher earner’s in ”˜M’.

It’s also possible to backdate claims for up to four years, potentially receiving a larger tax refund. If your circumstances change, like a divorce, remember to update your details with HMRC to avoid complications.

Transferring Unused Tax Allowances

Transferring unused tax allowances between spouses or civil partners can significantly reduce your tax bill. This process is straightforward and can provide meaningful financial benefits, especially if one partner earns significantly less than the other.

Benefits of Transferring Allowances

When you transfer a portion of your personal allowance to your higher-earning spouse, it can lower their tax liability. This means that up to £1,260 of your personal allowance can be passed on, resulting in up to £252 of tax savings per tax year.

Only one partner needs to be a non-taxpayer for this to apply, which generally means earning less than the £12,570 personal allowance. This allowance reduces the taxable income of the higher-earning spouse, pushing more income into lower tax brackets.

Not only does this cut your tax bill, but it helps manage your finances better by ensuring your overall tax payment is reduced. Adding this allowance transfer to other tax benefits can provide substantial yearly savings.

Maximising Pension Contributions

Maximising pension contributions can provide significant tax benefits. By contributing more to your pension, you can benefit from tax relief and ensure financial security for non-working spouses.

Tax Relief on Pension Contributions

When you pay into a pension, you receive tax relief on your contributions. As a basic-rate taxpayer in the UK, you can get a 20% boost from the government. For example, if you contribute £80, it will be topped up to £100. Higher and additional rate taxpayers can claim extra tax relief through their tax return.

Pension Contributions for Non-Working Spouses

Non-working spouses can still benefit from pension contributions. Even if they don’t earn any income, they can receive contributions from their working spouse. They can get tax relief on contributions up to £2,880 per year. This amount will be increased to £3,600 by the government.

This approach is beneficial for household financial planning. Ensuring both partners have pension savings can reduce dependency on the state pension and increase overall financial security. Our guide to how much a couple needs to retire at 60 shows what those combined pots need to reach. It also means that the surviving spouse has a secure income in retirement.

This method can offer substantial long-term tax benefits. Take advantage of these rules to protect your future.

Capital Gains Tax Advantages

Getting married can have several capital gains tax (CGT) benefits. These advantages primarily revolve around sharing assets between spouses and employing strategies to reduce the taxable gains on joint properties.

Sharing Assets and CGT Implications

When you are married, you can transfer assets to your spouse without triggering capital gains tax. This means you can evenly spread out the ownership of assets between you and your partner.

This is particularly useful for investment properties and shares. If one partner is in a lower tax bracket, transferring assets to that partner can reduce the overall tax liability when those assets are eventually sold.

By strategically sharing assets, you essentially increase the tax-free allowances available to your household. This not only helps in reducing your tax bill but also ensures better financial planning for long-term goals.

Strategies to Minimise Capital Gains Tax

You can employ several strategies to minimise your capital gains tax liability. One effective method is to make use of both spouses’ annual capital gains tax exemptions, which is £3,000 per year each in the current tax year.

By spreading the sale of assets over multiple tax years, you can benefit from these exemptions. Another strategy involves careful timing of asset sales to align with periods of lower income, thus reducing the overall taxable gain.

Utilising tax-efficient accounts like ISAs for assets that are likely to appreciate can also help minimise CGT. By leveraging these various approaches, you not only manage your family’s finances more effectively but also ensure substantial tax savings.

Inheritance Tax Benefits and Spousal Exemptions

Marriage can offer valuable benefits regarding inheritance tax. One significant advantage is the spouse exemption, which can reduce the tax burden when passing on property to a surviving spouse.

Understanding Spouse Exemption for Inheritance Tax

When you pass away, your estate may be liable for inheritance tax. However, transfers between spouses or civil partners are usually exempt. This means you can leave all your assets to your spouse without triggering inheritance tax.

For instance, if your estate is valued at £500,000, you can transfer this entire amount to your spouse without any inheritance tax. This exemption helps preserve family wealth and ensures that the surviving spouse can maintain their financial stability.

Passing on Property to a Surviving Spouse

One significant inheritance tax benefit is the ability to pass on property to a surviving spouse. Normally, there is a tax-free threshold of £325,000, with 40% tax on amounts above this limit. Yet, anything left to your spouse is exempt.

Additionally, you can boost this threshold when passing on your home. If you leave your property to your children or grandchildren, your estate can benefit from an increased threshold of up to £500,000. This is particularly important for larger estates, as it can significantly reduce the tax burden.

In the case of unused allowances, the surviving spouse can inherit the unused portion. For example, if a husband leaves £100,000 to others, the remaining £225,000 of his threshold can be added to his wife’s tax-free allowance, totalling £550,000.

Utilising Tax Credits and Benefits

Getting married or entering a civil partnership can provide you with significant advantages when it comes to tax credits and benefits. These advantages can help reduce your overall tax bill and ensure you make the most of your financial situation.

Child and Working Tax Credit Benefits

Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit closed on 5 April 2025 and were replaced by Universal Credit. Marriage or civil partnership does not create an entitlement on its own; joint Universal Credit claims are assessed on household income and savings, so check the effect before you apply.

Additional Benefits for Married Couples and Civil Partnerships

Being married or in a civil partnership also allows you to benefit from the Marriage Allowance. This benefit lets a low earner transfer up to 10% of their personal allowance to their spouse or civil partner.

To qualify, one partner must earn less than the personal allowance (£12,570 for the 2026/27 tax year), while the other must be a basic-rate taxpayer. This can save couples up to £252 a year in taxes.

Seeking Professional Financial Advice

Seeking professional financial advice can help you make informed decisions about your tax liability.

Financial advisors can provide guidance on how marriage can affect your income tax.

For self-employed individuals, professional advice can be invaluable. Advisors can help you navigate complex tax regulations and ensure you take advantage of all available allowances and deductions.

It’s wise to speak to a tax advisor who can tailor their advice to your specific financial situation. They can help identify ways to optimise your tax savings, particularly if you’re the highest earner in your household.

If you’re unsure where to start, consider reaching out to the income tax helpline, which can provide basic guidance and direct you to professional services if needed.

Always make sure your chosen advisor is reputable and qualified. Look for financial advisors who are certified by recognised associations. This ensures they have the necessary expertise to help manage your tax affairs effectively.

Financial Advisor Bristol and Pension Advisor Clifton

Frazer James Financial Advisers is an Independent  Financial Advisor in Bristol,  Clifton.  About us: Frazer James Financial Advisers is a  financial adviser in Bristol. We can provide independent and unbiased financial advice as an independent financial adviser. We provide independent financial advice, pension advice, investment advice, inheritance tax planning and insurance advice.  If you want to speak to a  Financial Advisor, we offer an  Initial Financial Consultation  without cost or commitment. Meetings are held either at our offices, by video or by telephone. Our telephone number is 0117 990 2602.  Frazer James Financial Advisers is located at  Square Works, 17 – 18 Berkeley Square, Bristol, BS8 1HB.  This article provides information about investing but not personal advice. If you’re not sure which investments are suitable for you, please request advice.  Remember that investments can go up and down in value; you may get back less than you put in.

About The Author

Chris Hindle

Chris is the Co-Founder and a Chartered Associate at Frazer James Financial Advisers. With over a decade in financial planning, he specialises in research, technical analysis, and firm operations, helping ensure clients receive clear, well-structured financial advice.

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