How to update your tax credit claim
Joint claims
If you’re already claiming tax credits and your living circumstances change, you can update your existing claim.
You can update your claim for tax credits as a single person, or as a couple (known as a ‘joint claim’) if you’re both 16 or over and living in the UK.
Usually, a joint claim is when:
- you’re married or in a civil partnership (and not permanently or legally separated)
- you live with your partner as though you’re married or in a civil partnership
- you’re temporarily living away from one another, for example looking after a relative or working away from home
A joint claim is also when you and your partner are not married or in a civil partnership, but:
- sometimes live in the same house
- have a joint financial agreement
- have dependent children
If you or your partner live abroad
Usually, you’ll have a claim for tax credits as a single person if you live in the UK and your partner lives abroad.
You must make a joint claim for tax credits if either:
- your partner is working abroad for the UK government (it does not matter if you live in the UK or abroad)
- you and your partner both live in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland and one of you works in the UK
If you’re claiming Child Tax Credit you must also make a joint claim if you live in the UK but your partner lives in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
If you’re not sure
Call HM Revenue and Customs to find out if you should make a joint claim.
You must pay back any tax credits you’re not entitled to if you do not make the right sort of application.