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Claiming wife's tax allowance - can we do this?

Question:
I will be retiring in a few months’ time and my wife who is eight years my junior is intending to stop work as well. Can we claim her tax allowance to off-set against my tax liability on my pension? 

Arthur Weller replies: 
If you look at www.gov.uk/government/publications/issue-briefing-marriage-allowance/issue-briefing-marriage-allowance you can see the rules for ‘marriage allowance’. In principle your wife can transfer part of her personal allowance to you.

I will be retiring in a few months’ time and my wife who is eight years my junior is intending to stop work as well. Can we claim her tax allowance to off-set against my tax liability on my pension? 

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This question was first printed in Tax Insider in October 2015.