Allow married couples to share their tax allowance
The Issue
When my wife and I welcomed our first child into the world, we made the decision that she would stay at home to care for our baby. This choice, while common in many European countries where policies support family life, put us in a challenging financial position. We are now relying on just one salary to support our family, and the burden is significant.
In many European nations, there are supportive measures in place for families who decide that one spouse will stay home to look after children. One such measure is the ability for married couples to share their tax allowance. This system not only provides financial relief to families like ours but also acknowledges the invaluable work done by stay-at-home parents.
Currently, in the UK, there is a limited scope for transferring tax allowances between spouses through the Marriage Allowance, but it simply isn’t enough. The Marriage Allowance allows only £1,260 to be transferred between partners which merely scratches the surface of what is needed financially to support a single-income family adequately.
This petition calls on the UK Government and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to reconsider and expand the tax allowance sharing policies for married couples. By increasing the amount of tax allowance that can be transferred, families would experience much-needed financial relief. It would encourage family stability and provide genuine support to couples dedicated to raising their children.
According to data from the Office for National Statistics, one in four families in the UK is a single-earner family. This demonstrates the scale of the potential impact of broadening tax allowance sharing. Such a change would align with practices in other parts of Europe where tax policies recognize the financial and societal value of family choices.
We urge the Government to redefine provisions for tax allowance sharing to fairly support families choosing to have a parent at home. Your signature on this petition can make a powerful statement. Stand with us in urging policymakers to acknowledge and support British families and the choices they make for their well-being.
Please sign this petition to bring about a change that our families need and deserve.
19
The Issue
When my wife and I welcomed our first child into the world, we made the decision that she would stay at home to care for our baby. This choice, while common in many European countries where policies support family life, put us in a challenging financial position. We are now relying on just one salary to support our family, and the burden is significant.
In many European nations, there are supportive measures in place for families who decide that one spouse will stay home to look after children. One such measure is the ability for married couples to share their tax allowance. This system not only provides financial relief to families like ours but also acknowledges the invaluable work done by stay-at-home parents.
Currently, in the UK, there is a limited scope for transferring tax allowances between spouses through the Marriage Allowance, but it simply isn’t enough. The Marriage Allowance allows only £1,260 to be transferred between partners which merely scratches the surface of what is needed financially to support a single-income family adequately.
This petition calls on the UK Government and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to reconsider and expand the tax allowance sharing policies for married couples. By increasing the amount of tax allowance that can be transferred, families would experience much-needed financial relief. It would encourage family stability and provide genuine support to couples dedicated to raising their children.
According to data from the Office for National Statistics, one in four families in the UK is a single-earner family. This demonstrates the scale of the potential impact of broadening tax allowance sharing. Such a change would align with practices in other parts of Europe where tax policies recognize the financial and societal value of family choices.
We urge the Government to redefine provisions for tax allowance sharing to fairly support families choosing to have a parent at home. Your signature on this petition can make a powerful statement. Stand with us in urging policymakers to acknowledge and support British families and the choices they make for their well-being.
Please sign this petition to bring about a change that our families need and deserve.
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 11 October 2026