Martin Lewis urges people to claim 'free money' ahead of looming deadline
Martin Lewis is calling attention to nearly two million married couples and civil partners who could be missing out on a tax benefit worth over £1,200. On the latest episode of the Martin Lewis Money Show Live, the financial guru implored viewers to seize the annual tax rebate.
He highlighted that for the 2024/25 financial year, couples could claim a rebate worth £252 from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) before the close of the current fiscal year on April 5.
Lewis also indicated to his audience that claims for the Marriage Tax Allowance can be backdated for up to four years, potentially allowing some couples to gain tax relief of approximately £1,260 dating back to the 2020/21 tax period. However, he noted that there's been a change in how to claim the tax break; for 2024/25 it must be done online, while for previous years back to April 6, 2020, a form must be downloaded from GOV.UK and posted to HMRC.
He said: "If you're trying to claim this tax year and past tax years, which most people will be doing, I'd just do it by post as it's just one application. The key is that HMRC must receive it by April 5, so you've got time but I'm saying do it now because it's a new way of doing it by post and it may get clogged up."
He further recommended using 'signed for delivery' when posting the claim since HMRC does not confirm receipt of claims. A viewer named Stephen contacted the show to discuss his success with Martin's advice from last year, reports the Daily Record.
Stephen and his wife were delighted to receive a full tax refund of £1,200. Martin went on to clarify that this year's £250 tax break is implemented through an adjustment in your tax code, whereas for previous years, the refund comes in the form of a cheque.
Detailed guidance on how to apply for the Marriage Allowance can be found on MoneySavingExpert.com, which provides four essential checks to ascertain if you're eligible. This includes information on Backdated Marriage Allowance payments.
You have the option to backdate your claim to cover any tax year since 5 April 2020, provided you qualified for the Marriage Allowance during that period. Your partner's tax bill will be reduced according to the Personal Allowance rate for the years you're claiming retrospectively.
HMRC also points out that if your partner has died since 5 April 2020, you're still entitled to make a claim – you should get in touch with the Income Tax helpline on 0300 200 3300, with comprehensive details available here. HMRC notes: "If your partner was the lower earner, the person responsible for managing their tax affairs needs to phone." For complete information about the Marriage Allowance, visit GOV.UK.
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