Your child lives at more than one address - claiming tax credits

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.

On this page:

Who can claim tax credits?
What happens if you can't agree?
If you disagree with the decision
Letting the Tax Credit Office know about changes at home
Contact the Tax Credit Office
More useful links

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.

You're not the child's parent - can you get tax credits?

You have children - can you get tax credits for them?

What happens if you can't agree?

If you can't agree who'll claim, the Tax Credit Office will decide for you. They’ll contact both of you so that they can work out who has main responsibility for the child. The number of days the child lives with you is important but they'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
who is the main contact for their school, college, nursery, childcare

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, the Tax Credit Office may ask you to tell them why you think you have main responsibility for that child.

If you can’t agree who’ll claim, the Tax Credit Office will decide for you based on the details that you and the other person give them. You’ll still keep getting paid while they make their decision.

If you disagree with the decision

If you think the Tax Credit Office decision is wrong, you have the right to appeal against it.

Appealing against a tax credits decision

Letting the Tax Credit Office know about changes at home

It's important to tell the Tax Credit Office straight away if your child goes to live with someone else. They understand this will be a difficult time for you. But telling them about any changes will help them 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 the Tax Credit Office know straight away.

Tax credits: how and when to report changes

Contact the Tax Credit Office

If you need more help you can call the Tax Credits Helpline which is open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The numbers you can ring are:

Tel 0845 300 3900
Textphone 0845 300 3909 - if you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment

If you're calling from overseas you can also contact the Tax Credit Office on Tel + 44 289 053 8192.