Over two million married couples and civil partners may face scrutiny from HMRC after claiming the marriage tax allowance. This allowance allows one partner to transfer £1,260 of their personal allowance to their spouse, saving up to £252 per tax year. However, pensions campaigner Ros Altmann cautions that many pensioners who have taken advantage of this could now face unexpected income tax bills. This is due to the combination of frozen tax thresholds and the increase in state pension value, resulting in a lower personal allowance for these individuals. Altmann highlights the risk of fines and penalties for those unaware of their tax liability, particularly among poorer pensioners who rely solely on their state pension.
