Ricky Gervais has revealed he may finally marry long-term partner Jane Fallon to avoid inheritance tax, saying the tax system makes marriage financially necessary for unmarried couples.
In the latest issue of Saga magazine, Gervais said: "I've got to get around to marrying, before I die." He explained that avoiding inheritance tax would be the reason he marries: "It is. And that will be the reason I marry. We haven't done it yet. But if it wasn't for [tax]… why? It's mad. How much more married can you be? We share all our money; we've been living together for 40 years. Some marriages don't last a year."
Tax perks for married couples
The UK government gives married couples specific tax advantages that unmarried cohabiting partners do not receive. These include tax-free asset transfers between spouses, meaning they can pass on assets, savings, investments, and second properties without paying Capital Gains Tax or Income Tax.
The most significant benefit is inheritance tax (IHT). Married couples can pass any amount of assets to each other completely free of inheritance tax, which is why Gervais and Fallon plan to marry.
No automatic rights for unmarried partners
If someone dies without a will, a married spouse automatically inherits all or a large portion of the estate. An unmarried partner has no automatic right to inherit anything. These rules apply to both heterosexual and LGBTQ couples.
Gervais and Fallon have been together for over four decades and have both publicly stated they are not keen on marriage. Their situation shows how marriage becomes attractive for tax reasons rather than love, and how the government's tax rules can dictate personal relationships.
The couple's case illustrates that even those with significant means feel compelled to marry for financial reasons, highlighting what critics see as an unfair system that treats longstanding unmarried couples differently from married ones.
