A particular group of people is being encouraged to act before a crucial HMRC deadline. Married couples are being urged to act within days to unlock one of the simplest tax savings available before the end of the tax year, with one expert stating: “Don’t accidentally gift HMRC £252 by missing the deadline.”

With the April 5 deadline rapidly approaching, eligible couples can secure up to £252 a year through the Government’s Marriage Allowance – and potentially more than £1,000 if they backdate their claim. This allows a lower-earning spouse to transfer £1,260 of their unused personal allowance to their partner, provided the recipient is a basic-rate taxpayer.

In simple terms, if one partner earns below the personal allowance threshold of £12,579 and the other pays tax, a straightforward transfer can reduce the couple’s overall tax bill. Despite its simplicity, thousands of eligible couples fail to claim it each year, often because they are unaware it exists or assume the process is complicated.

Samuel Mather-Holgate, managing director of Mather and Murray Financial, said the allowance was one of the most overlooked tax opportunities available.

He added: “This is one of the easiest tax wins available right now, especially this close to the tax year end. If one spouse earns below the personal allowance and the other is a taxpayer, transferring £1,260 can result in a saving of up to £252 every year. Don’t accidentally gift HMRC £252 by missing the deadline.”

Samuel stated that numerous couples could be holding even greater savings without realising it and the procedure itself was swift and uncomplicated, with applications requiring merely minutes online through HMRC. With the cost of living continuing to place strain on household budgets, this represents a straightforward, practical method to increase income without altering spending patterns.

He continued: “If you’ve forgotten to do it, you can backdate it up to four years. That means this simple step could be worth over £1,000 in total.

“It’s the tax equivalent of finding money at the back of the sofa. It’s a five-minute form for what could be a four-figure benefit.”

Timing proves essential, Samuel stated. While applications can theoretically be submitted at any moment, those seeking to maximise their claim, especially for the present tax year, should act before the April 5 deadline.

Paper applications remain possible, but Samuel cautioned they risk missing the cut-off due to lengthier processing periods, meaning couples could forfeit this year’s saving.

Couples must be married or in a civil partnership and the higher earner must stay within the basic-rate tax band to qualify for the complete benefit.