Tax relief?

m'lady

My 7 year old daughter, my boyfriend and me are living together. My question is, is my boyfriend who is the main income earner entitled to apply for tax relief as a father figure? we are not married obviously.

Nevyn

No he isn't.

traceybere

Nope - not unless he adopts your daughter

m'lady

ah ok thanks anyway. was worth a try!

nesf

It's a joke but the tax system is very unforgiving towards co-habiting couples in this country. If you are unmarried parents you essentially get punished for living together in that you lose the only tax credit available to you.

SarahMc

There is no tax relief for being a parent, biological or adopted, married or co-habiting.

(unless one parent is not working, which you did not mention in your post).

m'lady

If there is no tax relief on being a parent, how come men/women paying maintenance are getting a tax relief?? im lost!

Quality

One parent family tax credit, Is what you are talking about, I think..

Obviously you have to be a lone parent in order to qualify for this.:)

SarahMc

The tax relief on spousal/child maintenance is quite complicated, but is only available to non cohabiting couples who have court ordered maintenance.

K-9

Double post

K-9

SarahMc wrote: »

The tax relief on spousal/child maintenance is quite complicated, but is only available to non cohabiting couples who have court ordered maintenance.

Only spousal maintenance is tax deductible. Child maintenance is not. So actually the above is completely incorrect. Only seperated couples that are paying court ordered Spousal maintenance, are entitled to tax relief.

The single parent tax credit is available to any parent who is not cohabitating and the child is with them one night a year, regardless of maintenance!

m'lady wrote:

If there is no tax relief on being a parent, how come men/women paying maintenance are getting a tax relief?? im lost!

Incorrect. Spousal not child maintenance is tax deductible.

nesf wrote:

It's a joke but the tax system is very unforgiving towards co-habiting couples in this country. If you are unmarried parents you essentially get punished for living together in that you lose the only tax credit available to you.

Not really, you get the same tax credits as a married couple. If anything married couples are discriminated against compared to single parents as regards tax credits!

PS. Differs if one unmarried cohabitating couple is a SAHP.

nesf

Seanies32 wrote: »

Not really, you get the same tax credits as a married couple. If anything married couples are discriminated against compared to single parents as regards tax credits!

PS. Differs if one unmarried cohabitating couple is a SAHP.

I was talking about unmarried parents co-habiting where one of them is a stay at home parent. There is no way to share tax credits, like a married couple can in that situation. It is more advantageous tax wise for a couple who have a child to live apart than to live together.

K-9

nesf wrote: »

I was talking about unmarried parents co-habiting where one of them is a stay at home parent. There is no way to share tax credits, like a married couple can in that situation.

Indeed, they also don't get the benefit of the increased 20% band.

nesf wrote:

It is more advantageous tax wise for a couple who have a child to live apart than to live together.

True, it's a mad system were the child is recognised tax wise if you are single or seperated but not while in a relationship, married or not.

nesf

Seanies32 wrote: »

Indeed, they also don't get the benefit of the increased 20% band.

Yes which is really tough if you're going to be a one income family for the start of the child's life like most people have to do.

Victor

There may be some wriggle space. Check out secondary reliefs like health insurance and expenses. AFAIK, the relief on these goes to the person who pays the bill.