Our website uses cookies to help provide you with the best experience we can. Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile phone when you browse websites. We process your data to deliver content and measure the delivery of such content to extract insights about our ...

Child tax credit can be claimed for a child or qualifying young person. There are specific rules and age limits which cover claiming child tax credit for children once they turn 16. There is more information about the general rules for child tax credit on our child tax credit page.

From 6 April 2017, a two child limit policy was introduced to child tax credit which limits the amount of child tax credit awards. This page explains how the policy works and the exceptions.

The tax credits system closed on 5 April 2025, so no tax credit awards will continue after that date. Most people will have been invited to claim either universal credit or pension credit. Some people may still need to finalise their 2024/25 tax credit claim after 6 April 2025 and this page ...

Tax credits are worked out using yearly rates and yearly income figures. We explain how disregards work, which year’s income is used, what to do if the estimate is wrong and what to do when your income changes.