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Parents: Allowances

Asked by John McDonnellLabourTreasuryTabled Answered 22 June 2026UIN 9314

The question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will consider counting a married couple as a single family unit and transfer the personal allowances of an unpaid parent to the working parent.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson

Marriage Allowance allows a spouse or civil partner to transfer ten per cent of their income tax personal allowance, as long as the partner is not paying tax at higher rates.

In 2026-27, the Marriage Allowance is worth up to £252.

There are no current plans to change the rules on Marriage Allowance. As with all taxes, the Government keeps Marriage Allowance under review.

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