In this section:
- Which children can you claim tax credits for?
- Help with childcare costs - do you qualify?
- Children with disabilities and tax credits - who qualifies?
- Can you claim tax credits if you're not the child's parent?
- Claiming tax credits if your child lives at more than one address
- Who can claim tax credits if your child has a child?
Claiming tax credits if your child lives at more than one address
Only one household can claim tax credits for a child. So if you look after a child who sometimes lives with you and sometimes lives with someone else, you'll have to decide who'll claim.
Who can claim tax credits?
It's up to you and the other person the child lives with to decide who'll claim. If the child doesn't live with you at all you can't claim, even if you're paying maintenance.
Can you claim tax credits if you're not the child's parent?
Which children can you claim tax credits for?
What happens if you can't agree?
If you can't agree who'll claim, we'll decide for you. We'll contact both of you so that we can work out who the child's main carer is. The number of days the child lives with you is important but we'll also look at other things like:
- where the child keeps most of their clothes and toys
- who buys their clothes and food
- who gives them pocket money
- who takes them to appointments with the doctor or dentist
- which address is registered with the child's nursery, school, doctor and dentist
- who has legal custody of the child
If you're already getting tax credits for the child
If someone else makes a claim for a child you're getting tax credits for, we may ask you to tell us why you think you're the main carer. We'll then decide who should claim, based on the details that you and the other person give us. We'll keep paying you while we make our decision.
If you disagree with the decision
If you think our decision is wrong, you have the right to appeal against it. You can download the appeal form from our website.
Appealing against a tax credits decision
Go to the tax credits appeal form (PDF 35K)
Letting the Tax Credit Office know about changes at home
It's important to tell us straight away if your child goes to live with someone else. We understand this will be a difficult time for you. But telling us about any changes will help us make sure you're getting the payments you're entitled to.
If you stop being responsible for a child or young person, you must let us know straight away.
Tax credits: how and when to tell us about changes
Contact us
You can contact our Tax Credit Helpline on Tel 0845 300 3900 or textphone 0845 300 3909 (open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm seven days a week except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day).
More useful links
What happens if more than one person claims Child Benefit for the same child?
