MARTIN Lewis has revealed a quick trick that could see married couples receive a £1,000 cheque.

Speaking on his website, the money-saving expert reminded those in marriages or civil partnerships that they may be able to claim back money through Marriage Tax Allowance.

1

This allows eligible people to transfer £1,260 of their personal tax allowance to their spouse or civil partner.

To be eligible, one partner must be a non-taxpayer – earning under £12,570.

The other needs to pay a basic 20% basic tax rate – which applies to earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 in the UK.

If these conditions are met, the non-taxpayer is entitled to transfer 10% of their tax-free allowance to the taxpayer – meaning less tax is paid overall.

This could result in a tax refund of up to £252 for around two million couples across the UK.

And, in even better news, the refund can be backdated up to four years – meaning families could be receiving a cheque of over £1,000.

Mr Lewis said: “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.”

Government figures show that 2.28million couples applied for the benefit in 2022/23 year.

And HMRC estimates that a whopping 2.1 million may be missing out – despite being eligible.

Steve Webb, partner at pension consultants LCP, told The Sun that the benefit is “well worth claiming”.

He added that with personal allowances frozen until 2026, couples should be sure to “access all the tax-free income that they can”.

How to apply for marriage allowance

You can apply for marriage allowance online by visiting the gov.uk website, and it is free to do so.

The person who earns the least should make the claim.

However, if either of you gets other income, such as dividends or savings, you may need to work out who should claim.

You can call the Income Tax helpline if you’re unsure.

Changes to your personal allowances will be backdated to the start of the tax year, which is April 6, if your application is successful.

To be eligible for the allowance the following must apply to your and your spouse:

• You’re married or in a civil partnership.
• You do not pay income tax or your income is below your personal allowance (usually £12,570)
• Your partner pays Income Tax at the basic rate, which usually means their income is between £12,571 and £50,270 before they receive Marriage Allowance

If you only pay income tax at the basic rate and believe you’ve been wrongly denied marriage tax allowance, you can appeal the decision directly to HMRC.

You and your partner will get new tax codes that reflect the transferred allowance.

Your tax code will end with ‘M’ if you are receiving the allowance and ‘N’ if you are transferring the allowance.

You can read more about tax codes and how they work here.

You’ll need to call the marriage allowance enquiries helpline to speak to an agent and explain the issue.

You must cancel your claim for marriage allowance if you and your partner divorce or your income changes. You can do this online.

Advisers need to be “really on it” with their clients on Budget day next Wednesday (30 October), Moran Wealth Management founder Nicola Crosbie has warned.

Speaking on a panel at the Money Marketing Interactive conference in Leeds today (24 October), Crosbie insisted advisers “must be proactive” on the day.

“If we’re not, some other adviser will be,” she warned. “And that’s where there is likely to be a breakdown in the relationship [you have with your clients] if you’ve not got your finger on the pulse.”

She said it is important for advisers to “put things into perspective” for clients.

“It’s about saying: ‘Let’s just calm down a little bit’,” she said. “Our job is to calm the situation.”

She emphasised the importance of “being informed” about what could come up in the Budget.

“Don’t fluff your way through it,” she said. “Because it becomes a bit apparent if you don’t know what you’re talking about. And that will unsettle your clients more.”

On the same panel, Triple Point regional business development manager Lucy Dolan said having an “agile plan” for clients is key.

She added there are “many different approaches” that advisers can take to delivering advice around the Budget, but “the key point is that things can change”.

“These unprecedented times demonstrate how quickly legislation can shift,” she said. “Therefore, it’s essential to remain agile.

“I’ve spent considerable time with advisers, accountants and solicitors. Even among solicitors, there’s some apprehension about trusts at the moment because, once a trust is in place, the client loses a degree of autonomy.

She said that, depending on how things progress, advice businesses will focus more on estate planning, which allows clients to maintain control and flexibility.

“This is particularly important because, if legislation changes, clients need to be able to adapt their plans accordingly,” she said.

“Adaptability will be crucial moving forward.”

Also on the panel, Syndaxi Financial Planning managing director Robert Reid said the ability to navigate changes as a result of the Budget is what “keeps advisers relevant, useful and profitable”.

“In fact,” he suggested, “I believe the complexity this budget might introduce could actually widen the appeal of advice.”

WITH the cost of everything rising, now more than ever are people looking for ways to cover the costs of the essentials.

Poundland Perks is a game-changing app designed to offer exclusive discounts and rewards, as well as the opportunity to earn prizes every week.

3

Sign up for Poundland Perks

After already successfully piloting the Poundland Perks app in Northern Ireland and the Isle of Wight, a wider rollout for the UK is set to take place on October 17.

Whether you’re a regular shopper or new to Poundland, the app is a must-have for anyone looking to stretch their budgets and snag fantastic offers on everyday needs.

Poundland’s digital loyalty scheme rewards users with discounts on promotional products, which can also be redeemed against purchases in-store by scanning a barcode in the app at checkout.

Wondering how it works and most importantly, how you can start saving today?

We’ve outlined everything you need to know ahead of the app’s launch.

What is the Poundland Perks App?

3

Sign up for Poundland Perks

Poundland Perks is the all-new loyalty and rewards programme from retailer Poundland.

The simple-to-use app is designed to give customers access to exclusive savings on selected products in stores nationwide.

Downloading the Poundland Perks app means you can unlock vouchers, earn points and enjoy weekly fun and prizes to win.

The app aims to ensure Poundland shoppers can “save more, earn more, and play more”, all while picking up the essentials and their favourite bargains.

Saving money while doing your weekly shopping has never been this rewarding, which is perfect now that the colder weather is starting to set in and the festive season draws nearer.

How does the Poundland app work?

The app offers special discounts on selected products, which means extra savings just for being part of the Perks members.

Every time you shop, you’ll be able to take advantage of lower prices on a wide range of products across the store.

When you buy certain products, you’ll earn Powered Up Points, which can be collected and redeemed for even more rewards.

For every £1 spent in-store, Poundland Perks members will get 100 points in the app, with 5,000 points earning them a £1 voucher for their next shop.

Poundland Perks also features ‘spin the wheel’ competitions.

Every Wednesday, you can log in to the app and spin a virtual wheel for a chance to win extra rewards, but these will be one-off promotions that Poundland will launch at its discretion according to its terms and conditions.

Are Poundland Perks available across the UK?

3

Sign up for Poundland Perks

A roll-out in the UK is expected on October 17, while it might not be all UK stores for now, we will hear announcements of what stores we can expect to be participating.

To start saving in the UK, head to the App Store or Google Play and search for Poundland Perks.

Download and install the app on your smartphone and create a Perks profile on the app.

Once logged in, customers can explore the Perks Pricing deals available in local stores, and the app will show you which products are eligible for discounts.

When you’re ready to pay at the checkout, you can simply scan your Poundland Perks app QR code to start accumulating points and savings at Poundland.

Sign up for Poundland Perks

As of early 2024, iOS holds a dominant 60.77% share of the U.S. mobile market, far ahead of Android’s 38.81% (Backlinko). This makes iOS app development crucial for businesses targeting a large and active audience.

In this post, we’ll talk about…money, the biggest driver in the development process. We’ll explore how much it costs to make an app from Purrweb’s perspective, but these estimates will either be relevant for other development companies.

What are the peculiarities of iOS app development?

iOS app development has its own set of unique characteristics compared to Android. What makes it stand out?

App Store only

The only place where iOS apps may be distributed is through Apple’s App Store. No third-party stores, no APKs—developers have to abide by Apple’s rules at all times. These regulations can be strict; before an app is authorized for distribution, it must pass rigorous evaluations and frequently go through many changes.

Limited device range

Apple’s consistent hardware lineup simplifies development. iOS has fewer screen sizes and resolutions to support than the wide variety of Android devices. Because of the simplified testing and optimization process, developers are free to concentrate on creating a polished application rather than worrying about unforeseen problems resulting from subtle hardware variances.

Languages

Additionally, Swift and Objective-C are iOS-specific programming languages. Specifically, Swift is designed to be current and effective, allowing developers to create reliable, high-performing programs. 

Enhanced security

Privacy and security come first. Because of Apple’s stringent policies on user data, all apps are required to include strong security features, including data encryption and permissions management. The fundamental design of iOS apps upholds this commitment to privacy, guaranteeing that user data is always secure.

How to build an app for iOS

Building an iOS app involves a series of decisions and steps, each of which can influence the final app development costs and development timeline. Here’s a structured approach:

Define your scope and platform needs

Decide if you need an app exclusively for iOS or if you plan to develop for Android as well. 

Cross-platform frameworks allow you to build a single codebase for both platforms, which can save money and time, but native development guarantees the greatest performance and user experience.

Work on UI/UX

iOS users have very high expectations for design and usability. Moreover, the design must be adhere to (HIG). 

Develop and test

Use Apple’s Xcode integrated development environment (IDE) for project management, code authoring, and app building.

Extensive testing is essential. To find and fix issues, use physical devices and simulations. 

Prepare for App Store submission

Ensure your app complies with all App Store Review Guidelines. This includes content restrictions, user interface standards, and privacy policies. We add different screenshot and keywords to create a list.

Submit to the App Store

Use Xcode or App Store Connect to submit your app for review. Be prepared for multiple review rounds, as Apple may request changes to meet their guidelines.

Post-launch support and updates

Even after release, you should allocate your resources on maintaining and refining the app.

How much money do we spend to build an app?

We spend on various components such as:

Development team costs

2. App complexity

Most of the apps have minimal functionality and their cost may be between $10K and $30K.

It has database integration, API interactions, and user authentication typically costs between $30K and $100K.

But now, apps that have advanced features such as real-time data sync, custom animations, AI integration, or complex back-end requirements can cost more than $100k.

3. Design costs

Mostly UI/UC design cost between $50k to 30k. It depends on the number of design and screend complexity. If you are budget limited, consider simple UI/UX without complex animations.

4. Backend development

Creating a backend to handle user data, authentication, and other critical features typically costs between $10K and $50K. Third-party services, like analytics tools, social network logins, or payment gateways, can bump up the price by an additional $2K to $10K.

5. App Store costs

Apple’s developer license is $99 per year for individuals. For enterprises, the cost is $299. Additionally, keep in mind that Apple takes a 15% to 30% fee on all in-app purchases and premium software downloads.

6. Marketing and launch costs

Landing pages, press releases, and social media campaigns generally range from $1K to $10K. Of course, marketing is not an obligatory and rigid factor. For example, MVP apps rarely have extensive marketing.

7. Launch costs

App Store optimization costs anything from $1K to $5K, depending on how visible you want your app to be.

8. Maintenance and updates

After launch, bug fixes and small upgrades may run you anything from $1K to $10K a year. Depending on their complexity, adding new features based on user feedback can cost anywhere between $5K and $50K.

How much does it cost to develop an app from Purrweb?

The table below provides approximate pricing for an average project, giving you a general idea of the budget range to consider.

Of course, this is just an estimate. The actual cost for building an app can vary greatly depending on its specific details. As each app is unique, it’s essential to discuss your requirements with a development company and get an accurate quote.