Marriage: Benefit in kin

The surprising financial perks of saying “I do”.

Getting married is a big decision; emotionally, personally, and believe it or not, financially. And while we’d never recommend walking down the aisle just to save on tax, it’s worth knowing that marriage or civil partnership in the UK can unlock a few handy tax breaks.

So, here’s a quick guide to the key benefits and how you can make the most of them.

Marriage Allowance 

Because teamwork should come with tax perks too.

If one of you earns under the Personal Allowance (£12,570 for 2025/26) and the other is a basic-rate taxpayer (under £50,270), you can transfer up to £1,260 of your allowance to your partner.

That could knock up to £252 off their tax bill. It's simple, it’s helpful, and it's a small win that can really add up.

Capital Gains Tax

Sharing shouldn’t come with penalties, but usually, gifting or selling things like property or shares can trigger Capital Gains Tax (CGT). When you’re married or in a civil partnership, transfers between you are tax-free.

This can be a smart move if you're planning to sell, by splitting ownership first, you could use both CGT allowances and lower your tax bill.

Inheritance Tax 

Everything you leave to your spouse or civil partner is completely free from Inheritance Tax (IHT).

And if you don’t use your full nil-rate band (£325,000), they can inherit the unused portion, potentially doubling their threshold to £650,000. Add the residence nil-rate band and some couples could pass on up to £1 million, tax-free.

It’s a powerful planning tool which can make a huge difference in estate planning and help preserve more of your family’s wealth for the future.

ISA Planning 

Each person has a £20,000 ISA allowance (2025/26), and if one spouse passes away, the surviving partner can inherit that allowance through something called an additional permitted subscription.

You won’t get the ISA itself, unless you’re named in the Will, but you can use the allowance to boost your own ISA savings by the same amount your partner held. It’s one of those little-known benefits worth remembering for your long-term savings plan.

These tax perks obviously aren’t the only reason to get hitched, but if you’re already in a committed partnership, they’re a good reason to review how you’re set up financially.

At Spring, we’re here to help you make sense of the rules, spot the opportunities, and make confident decisions. Let’s see how we can help you grow together.

 This summary is to serve as a guide, and it should not be taken as professional advice.