Tax credits for short periods of childcare
If you don’t normally pay for childcare, you might still
need to once in a while. For example, if you can't get time
off work during school holidays. Find out how help for short
periods of childcare works, and how to claim.
On this page:
Short periods of childcare - how your extra
tax credits are worked out
You can claim help with your childcare costs just for the
short time you need the childcare for. This means your extra
tax credits are worked out and paid over the period you use
the care. For this to happen, all of the following need to
apply:
- you only use childcare once in a while - for example only
during the summer holidays or in an emergency
- your childcare is for a fixed period - in other words
you know when it will start and end
- you use registered or approved childcare
Otherwise the help for your childcare will be worked out
and paid over 52 weeks.
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How to claim - if you're new to tax credits
To claim you need to:
- get a claim form from the Tax Credit Helpline
- once you've got your claim form, fill it in - but leave
out the details of your childcare
- send the claim form back to the Tax Credit Office
Then do one of the following:
- if you're paying for the childcare now - allow time for
your form to be received, then call the Tax Credit Helpline
to claim for the short period of childcare
- if you're not paying for childcare yet - call the Tax
Credit Helpline no earlier than seven days before your childcare
starts
Have the following information to hand before you ring:
- the start and end date of the childcare
- the actual childcare costs you are paying in the short
period
- your childcare provider's details - their name, address,
phone number, childcare registration or approval number
(your childcare provider will be able to give you this information)
Contact
details for the Tax Credit Helpline
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How to claim - if you're already getting
tax credits
You need to contact the Tax Credit Helpline as soon as your
childcare starts or up to seven days beforehand.
Have the following information to hand when you ring:
- the start and end date of the childcare
- the actual childcare costs you are paying in the short
period
- your childcare provider's details - their name, address,
phone number, childcare registration or approval number
(your childcare provider will be able to give you this information)
Contact
details for the Tax Credit Helpline
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More useful links
Childcare
costs - how to work them out for your tax credits claim
Childcare
changes - effect on Working Tax Credit
More
about childcare on the Directgov website (Opens new window)
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