The UK taxes individuals, not households - the same money can be tax-free in one name and taxed at 40% in the other. Updates as you type.
Salary, self-employment, pension
Before tax, per year
Unlocks Marriage Allowance and tax-free transfers of assets between you. Unmarried partners should gift cash, not grown assets - transferring shares or property can itself trigger CGT.
From shares or funds held outside ISAs.
Estimate for 2026/27. Savings and dividend tax use UK-wide rates in every nation. Transfers must be genuine outright gifts - the money legally belongs to your partner afterwards.
Household saving from the right-name moves
Marriage Allowance can be backdated four tax years - worth up to on top as a one-off.
Worth more with pension or salary sacrifice
Estimates only - allowances interact, so check the detail before moving large sums. Not advice.
Savings interest
Each partner has their own Personal Savings Allowance (£ basic rate, £ higher rate, £0 additional rate). A low-income partner can also use the £ starting rate for savings and any spare Personal Allowance - up to £18,570 of interest completely tax-free in the right hands.
Dividends
Two £ dividend allowances beat one, and the basic dividend rate () is far below the higher rate ().
Child Benefit & the £60k charge
The charge is based on the higher partner's adjusted net income between and - 1% per £200. Pension contributions and salary sacrifice reduce adjusted net income pound for pound.
Genuine gifts only
Transfers must be outright - the asset really belongs to your partner afterwards, including if you separate.
Spouses transfer tax-free
No Capital Gains Tax or Inheritance Tax on transfers between spouses and civil partners. Unmarried partners should gift cash, not grown assets.
Property is different
Rental income follows legal ownership - 50:50 by default for married joint owners. Changing that needs genuinely unequal ownership plus Form 17, so take advice first.
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Couples Tax Optimiser by TaxFly — free UK tax calculators