Martin Lewis highlights how married couples can claim a £1,006 tax refund by Christmas

Martin Lewis has revealed a way for couples to secure a free cheque worth £1,006 before this year's Christmas.

In the latest Money Saving Expert (MSE) newsletter, it was explained that married couples or those in civil partnerships could claim something known as Marriage Tax Allowance. This tax benefit allows the lower earner in the relationship to transfer £1,260 of their personal allowance to their partner.

The personal allowance is the amount you can earn before you have to pay tax on it.

The current personal allowance stands at £12,570 - so if your earnings are below this, you don't pay any tax, and if they're above, then you pay tax on your income over this threshold. For instance, if you earn £12,600 - then you will only pay tax on £30.

Martin pointed out that while claiming tax allowances might not be a "traditional" Christmas activity, more than two million couples could receive a tax refund of up to £1,260 and for many, this could include a cheque worth over a grand. To explain how it works, the founder of the MSE website noted that firstly, you need to be married or in a civil partnership, reports the Mirror.

Secondly, one partner needs to be a non-taxpayer - meaning they earn less than £12,570 a year. The other partner also needs to be a 20% basic rate taxpayer - so earning between £12,570 to £50,270 a year or between £12,570 to £43,662 if you're based in Scotland.

He explained: "If eligible, the non-taxpayer can transfer 10% of the amount they can earn tax-free each year to the taxpayer, so they pay less tax."

Consequently, by making a claim, the personal allowance for the non-taxpayer will be reduced to £11,310, while the taxpayer's personal allowance will rise to £13,380. Martin further noted: "For this year's allowance, worth £252, the taxpayer's tax code is altered, resulting in them paying less tax over the course of the year. Even better, it's possible to backdate this for up to four years if you were eligible at that time."

Martin also mentioned that if you qualify for backdating, which could currently net you as much as £1,006, you'll receive payment either via cheque or bank transfer. Presently, the process takes about six weeks, suggesting you could have the extra funds by Christmas, or to be more precise, by "early December".

To check your eligibility, there's an online tool known as the Marriage Allowance Calculator, which HMRC has previously claimed can be completed in "only 30 seconds". Applications can be made directly through the HMRC website or by phoning 0300 200 3300.

Be sure to have your National Insurance number and some form of ID ready. After submitting your claim, it will apply to future tax years provided you continue to meet the necessary criteria.