How We Helped Our Client Save Nearly £1,000 Using Marriage Allowance In Their Tax Return
Being one of the leading accountants in Coventry we work we hundreds of clients on a yearly basis and one of the most common mistakes we see is simple tax reliefs being overlooked, one of the most common being Marriage Allowance.
Recently, we assisted multiple Coventry based clients in reclaiming close to £1,000 in tax savings simply by backdating their claims correctly.
If you’re married or in a civil partnership, this is something you should definitely be aware of.
What is Marriage Allowance?
Marriage Allowance allows one spouse (or civil partner) to transfer part of their unused Personal Allowance to the other.
For the 2026/27 tax year, for example:
The Personal Allowance is £12,570
Up to £1,260 of unused allowance can be transferred
This can reduce the higher-earning partner’s tax bill by up to £252 per year.
You can backdate a Marriage Allowance claim up to 4 previous tax years provided you were eligible in each year.
We regularly see individuals who have never claimed this, despite being eligible for several years, missing out on potential savings of over £1,000.
How We Helped Our Client
We recently reviewed the tax position of a Coventry-based client who had:
Income in the basic rate band
Standard Personal Allowance applied
No Marriage Allowance claim in place
Despite being eligible, nothing had been done.
By reviewing their situation and making the necessary claim with HMRC, we were able to:
Backdate the claim
Adjust their tax position
Secure a refund close to £1,000
This is a clear example of how small, missed allowances can build into significant savings over time and how we at Cheylesmore Accountants, ensure you are maximising your allowance. This exact saving will depend on your individual circumstances and eligibility for each tax year.
How Do I Know If I’m Eligible?
You may qualify if:
You’re married or in a civil partnership
One partner earns below £12,570
The other partner is a basic rate taxpayer (typically earning up to £50,270)
If both partners are working, it’s still worth checking. Many couples assume they don’t qualify when they actually do.
Why This Is Often Missed
From what we see as Coventry accountants, the same issues appear time and again:
People assume HMRC applies it automatically
Couples don’t realise income differences have an impact
Claims aren’t backdated unless someone actively looks into it
The reality is, if you don’t claim, it will not happen.
How We Make A Difference
A lot of tax returns are technically correct, however, your tax savings is not being fully optimised, which can cost you money in the long run.
We regularly review tax returns and personal tax positions, which include checking for missed allowances and backdate claims where possible. We’ll handle all communication with HMRC on your behalf to make the process as stress-free as possible.
Most clients are surprised that the biggest savings don’t come from complex planning, they come from in-depth checking.
If you’re married or in a civil partnership and haven’t reviewed your tax position properly, there’s a chance you could be missing out.
If you’d like us to check whether you’re eligible for Marriage Allowance or any other tax relief, contact our team today.
