In this section:
- You have children - can you get tax credits for them?
- Help with childcare costs - do you qualify for extra tax credits?
- What is registered or approved childcare for tax credits?
- Children with disabilities - can you get extra tax credits?
You have children - can you get tax credits for them?
If you have a new baby or you’re responsible for any children under the age of 16 - or under 20 if they're in full-time education or approved training - you may be able to claim Child Tax Credit to help with the cost of looking after them.
On this page:
- When you can claim for a child
- If you’re not the child’s parent
- Adoptive parents and foster parents
- If your child lives with more than one person
- If your child lives outside the UK
- Keeping the Tax Credit Office up to date
- More useful links
When you can claim for a child
You can usually claim tax credits for:
- a new baby
- any child who lives with you, until 31 August after their 16th birthday
- children under 20, if they're in full-time education or approved training
If you have a new baby, the Tax Credit Office can backdate your payments to the date the baby was born as long as you claim within three months. For example, if your baby was born on 1 January but the Tax Credit Office only gets your claim on 1 June, they can only pay you from 1 March.
New baby – find out what tax credits you are entitled to
Once 31 August after your child’s 16th birthday passes, you can still claim tax credits for them as long as they´re under 20 and they're in full-time education or approved training. For example they’re doing A levels or are on a Programme Led Apprenticeship.
Find out more about what happens to your tax credits when your child reaches 16
If you’re not the child’s parent
You can claim Child Tax Credit if you have responsibility for a child. This could be for example if:
- the child usually lives with you
- the child keeps their toys, clothes and so on at your home
- you pay for their meals and give them pocket money
If you're not sure whether you count as being responsible for a child you can call the Tax Credit Helpline for advice.
Contact the Tax Credit Helpline
Adoptive parents and foster parents
If your local authority has placed a child with you for either adoption or fostering, you can claim tax credits for them as long as you're not getting any money from your local authority or Health and Social Services Board.
If you are getting money from your local authority or Health and Social Services Board you should call the Tax Credit Helpline to find out if you can claim.
Contact the Tax Credit Helpline
If your child lives with more than one person
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.
You can't claim tax credits if your child doesn’t live with you at all - even if you're paying maintenance.
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. They will look at things that include the number of days the child lives with you and where the child keeps most of their clothes and toys.
If you're already getting tax credits for your 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. You’ll still keep getting paid while they make their decision.
If your child lives outside the UK
You may be able to claim tax credits for your child if any of the following apply:
- you come from a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) and are working, or are actively looking for work, in the UK
- your child normally lives with you, but spends some time abroad, for example, they are studying elsewhere in the world and come home during school holidays
- your partner is a Crown Servant working anywhere overseas and your child lives with them
You're from the EEA and your family doesn’t live in the UK - find out about tax credits
Find out more about Crown Servants living abroad and tax credits
Keeping the Tax Credit Office up to date
Changes to report within one month
Tell the Tax Credit Office within one month if your child:
- leaves home or you start looking after a child
- goes to live with someone else
- leaves full-time education or approved training before 31 August after their 16th birthday
- starts training that's provided as part of their job
- gets a paid job and they're usually paid to work for 24 hours or more a week
- starts to claim benefits or tax credits in their own right
If you don't report these changes, you might be paid too much tax credits. If the Tax Credit Office does overpay you, you'll usually have to pay the money back. They may also charge you a penalty.
Contact the Tax Credit Helpline
Changes to report within three months
Tell the Tax Credit Office within three months if your child:
- stays on at school or college after they reach 16
- starts an approved training course after they reach 16
- stops full time education but registers with a careers service - like Connexions
If you don't, you’ll only get tax credits for them until 31 August after their 16th birthday.
Contact the Tax Credit Helpline
Tax credits: changes you need to report and when
More useful links
How to claim tax
credits
Help with childcare costs - do you qualify?
Check if
you qualify for Child Benefit
