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Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit

“9 out of 10 families with children are entitled to tax credits. But you don't need to have children to qualify”.

Claiming tax credit

You can claim two tax credits:

The general rule is that to qualify for tax credits you must be aged 16 or over and usually live in the United Kingdom. You may also qualify if you do not live in the UK but you are

A citizen of another country in the European Economic Area (EEA) and you work in the United Kingdom
A Crown Servant posted overseas
A citizen of a country in the European Economic Area (including the UK) living abroad and you receive a UK state pension or contributions-based Jobseeker's Allowance.

Couples* must make a joint tax credits claim. If you are part of a couple, you cannot decide to claim as a single person.

*A couple is a man and a woman who are married and living together or living together as if they are married.

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Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit is for people who are responsible for at least one child or qualifying young person.

Child Tax Credit is paid direct to the person who is mainly responsible for caring for the child or children.

If you are a lone parent you will receive the payment.

Child Tax Credit can be paid to workers who continue to pay UK National Insurance Contributions when posted from the UK to work in another country in the European Economic Area.

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Working Tax Credit

Working Tax Credit is for people who are employed or self-employed (either on their own or in a partnership), who

usually work 16 hours or more a week
are paid for that work, and
expect to work for at least 4 weeks

and who are

aged 16 or over and responsible for at least one child, or
aged 16 or over and disabled, or
aged 25 or over and usually work at least 30 hours a week

Working Tax Credit is paid to the person who is working 16 hours or more a week.

Couples, if both of you are working 16 hours or more a week, must choose which one of you will receive it.

You cannot receive Working Tax Credit if you are not working.

As part of Working Tax Credit you may qualify for help towards the costs of childcare.

If you receive the childcare element of Working Tax Credit, this will always be paid direct to the person who is mainly responsible for caring for the child or children, alongside payments of Child Tax Credit.

The amount of tax credits you receive will depend on your annual income.

To see if you qualify see Do I Qualify for Tax Credits (see external links section below).

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Tax Credit Helpline

You can contact the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 (textphone 0845 300 3909).

They are open from 8am - 8pm seven days a week, for you to:

Make a claim for Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit
Report a change of circumstance
Renew your tax credits award by phone or post only (once you receive the form that we send to you)

You can also visit them at Tax Credits Online (see external links section below).

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