Asked by: David Burrowes (Conservative - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the level of uptake of the marriage tax allowance is; what steps he is taking to increase the uptake of that allowance; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The Marriage Allowance was introduced in April 2015, to recognise the importance of marriage in the tax system and support those on low incomes. Over 1.6 million couples have successfully applied for the Marriage Allowance, with around one million applying so far in this tax year.
The Government is committed to raising awareness of the savings the allowance will bring to eligible couples. HM Revenue and Customs ran a marketing campaign in the autumn of 2016, comprising radio, digital, social media and search engine advertising. A further round of advertising commenced on 20 February and will run through to 31 March 2017.
As with all efforts to promote awareness of tax reliefs and allowances, the Government will keep the effectiveness of these marketing campaigns under review.
Asked by: David Burrowes (Conservative - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse was of providing the married couples allowance in each financial year since 2001.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The Married Couple’s Allowance (MCA) is an additional allowance for married couples worth between £322 and £835.50 per couple in 2016-17. Prior to 2000-01, MCA was available to all married couples irrespective of age, but on the introduction of the tax credit system it remained available to married couples where at least one of them was born before 6 April 1935.
The estimated cost and the estimated number of claimants of MCA for the financial years 2002-03 to 2015-16 are given in the table below.
Married Couple's Allowance | ||
| Cost (£millions) | Number of Claimants (000s) |
2002-03 | 450 | 1160 |
2003-04 | 610 | 1510 |
2004-05 | 590 | 1450 |
2005-06 | 530 | 1320 |
2006-07 | 520 | 1230 |
2007-08 | 450 | 1050 |
2008-09 | * | * |
2009-10 | 440 | 890 |
2010-11 | 340 | 670 |
2011-12 | 400 | 760 |
2012-13 | 360 | 650 |
2013-14 | 320 | 570 |
2014-15 | 285 | 490 |
2015-16 | 245 | 420 |
*Data not currently available
Up to 2012-13 these estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) for the years concerned. Later years are projected from the 2012-13 SPI using the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Autumn Statement 2015 economic and fiscal outlook. Data for 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2008-09 are not currently available.
Asked by: David Burrowes (Conservative - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many couples claimed the married couples allowance in each financial year since 2001.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The Married Couple’s Allowance (MCA) is an additional allowance for married couples worth between £322 and £835.50 per couple in 2016-17. Prior to 2000-01, MCA was available to all married couples irrespective of age, but on the introduction of the tax credit system it remained available to married couples where at least one of them was born before 6 April 1935.
The estimated cost and the estimated number of claimants of MCA for the financial years 2002-03 to 2015-16 are given in the table below.
Married Couple's Allowance | ||
| Cost (£millions) | Number of Claimants (000s) |
2002-03 | 450 | 1160 |
2003-04 | 610 | 1510 |
2004-05 | 590 | 1450 |
2005-06 | 530 | 1320 |
2006-07 | 520 | 1230 |
2007-08 | 450 | 1050 |
2008-09 | * | * |
2009-10 | 440 | 890 |
2010-11 | 340 | 670 |
2011-12 | 400 | 760 |
2012-13 | 360 | 650 |
2013-14 | 320 | 570 |
2014-15 | 285 | 490 |
2015-16 | 245 | 420 |
*Data not currently available
Up to 2012-13 these estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) for the years concerned. Later years are projected from the 2012-13 SPI using the Office for Budget Responsibility’s Autumn Statement 2015 economic and fiscal outlook. Data for 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2008-09 are not currently available.