In this section:
You have children - can you get tax credits for them?
If 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.
When you can claim for a child
You can usually claim tax credits for a child who lives with you, until 1 September after their 16th birthday.
If your child is between 16 and 19, you can still claim tax credits for them if they're:
- still in full-time education, up to and including 'A' levels, NVQ level 3 or Scottish Highers
- in approved training like Entry to Employment, Skillbuild and Get Ready for Work
If your child is 16 or 17, and they've left full-time education or approved training, you can still claim tax credits for them for up to 20 weeks if both of the following apply:
- they have signed up with the careers service, Connexions or Training and Employment Agency
- they are working less than 24 hours a week
Find out more about what happens to your tax credits when your child reaches 16
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.
If your child lives with more than one person
If you're responsible for a child who sometimes lives with you and sometimes lives with someone else - for example your ex-partner - then only one of you can get tax credits for them. It's up to you and the other adult involved to decide who claims for the child. If you can't agree and both of you make a claim then the Tax Credit Office will decide after contacting you both. Child Tax Credit is usually paid directly to the person who is the child's main carer.
Claiming tax credits if your child lives at more than one address
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
EA countries
EEA countries are:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom (UK).
Letting the Tax Credit Office know about changes at home
It's very important that you let the Tax Credit Office know straight away if a child leaves home or you start looking after a child. This may be a busy or difficult time for you, but it's your responsibility to report changes so that your payments are based on the correct facts.
Tax credits: how and when to report changes
Contact the Tax Credit Office
If you need more help you can call the Tax Credit 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.
More useful links
How to claim
tax credits
Help with childcare costs - do you qualify?
Check if you qualify for
Child Benefit
