Martin Lewis' MSE urges people in relationships to claim £1,006 before Christmas

Thousands of people up and down the country could get a £1,000 cash boost just in time for if they follow one piece of advice.

The founder has urged anyone who is married or in a civil partnership to check if they can claim money back through .

Marriage Allowance allows couples to transfer £1,260 of their Personal Allowance to their partner, and in turn reduce their tax by up to .

To benefit as a couple, the lower earner must normally have an income below your Personal Allowance - this is usually £12,570, and one person must pay Income Tax at the basic rate, meaning their income is between £12,571 and £50,270.

If you meet both of these criteria, the person who has an income below £12,570, or doesn't pay Income Tax, can transfer 10% of their tax-free allowance to their partner, meaning as a couple you pay less tax overall.

If you live in Scotland, your partner must pay the starter, basic or intermediate tax rate, which normally means their income is between £12,571 and £43,662.

According to Martin Lewis, a staggering two million couples in the UK are currently missing out on Marriage Tax Allowance, which could entitle you to a tax refund of up to £1,260.

Speaking on his ITV Martin Lewis Money Show Live, he said: "A staggering two million, one hundred thousand couples out there who are eligible for this, it is big money, are not claiming it.

"There are two criteria. First of all, you must be married or in a civil partnership - I'm afraid cohabiting does not count. And one of you must be a non-tax payer, so that's usually earning under £12,500 a year. And the other one a 20 percent tax payer, so that's usually - depending on where in the UK you are - in between £12,500 to £50,000 a year."

Claims can be backdated for up to four years that you were eligible for it to include any tax year since April 5, 2020, and your partner's tax bill will be reduced depending on the Personal Allowance rate for the years you're backdating.

Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert (MSE) says that couples who are eligible for a tax refund could then receive a cheque in the post, or a bank transfer, worth up to £1,006, within six weeks of making a claim, providing some welcome extra cash just in time for Christmas.

In a recent newsletter, Lewis' MSE explains: "Claiming tax allowances isn't traditional Christmas fare, but it is a quick way for two million eligible couples not currently claiming to get an up to £1,260 tax refund - for many this will include a cheque for over £1,000."

It adds: "For this year's allowance, worth £252, the taxpayer's tax code is changed, so they pay less tax during the year. However, if you're eligible for backdating, worth up to £1,006, that's paid as a cheque or bank transfer taking around six weeks, so you could have it by early December."

It's free to apply for Marriage Allowance online . If couples have no income other than your wages, then the person who earns the least should submit the claim.

If couples have other sources of income, such as dividends or savings, you can call the for advice on who should claim. If your application is successful, any changes to your Personal Allowances will be backdated to the start of the tax year (April 6).

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will give your partner the allowance you have transferred to them either:

• by changing their tax code - this can take up to 2 months

• when they send their Self Assessment tax return

If your new Personal Allowance is lower than your income after you've made a claim, you may have to pay some Income Tax.

You and your partner will get new tax codes that reflect the transferred allowance. Your tax code will end with 'M' if you're receiving the allowance, or 'N' if you're transferring the allowance. Your tax code will also change if you're employed or get a pension.