Tax Credits: Understanding couples

A claim for tax credits must either be made jointly by a couple (a joint claim) or by an individual (a single claim).

In the last year, HMRC have started a number of compliance initiatives to investigate claims and determine whether they have been made in the right capacity.

The definition of a couple is set out in legislation, but it is a very basic definition and many of the problems arise from the meaning of various phrases contained within it for which there is no further guidance in legislation. It is often not clear cut whether someone is part of a couple or not, however it can have serious implications for tax credits.

Given that this is not a straightforward area, HMRC may not have made the right decision particularly where they rely on third party evidence such as from credit reference agencies. This guide has been written to help advisers understand the legal position as well as how to effectively challenge a negative decision.

What is a couple?

Section 3(3) Tax Credit Act 2002 states that a claim for a tax credit may be made:

(a) jointly by the members of a couple both of whom are aged at least sixteen and are in the United Kingdom, or

(b) by a person who is aged at least sixteen and is in the United Kingdom but is not entitled to make a claim under paragraph (a) (jointly with another).

So there are two types of tax credits claims – Joint and Single.

The Act then goes on, in Section 3(5), to explain what a ‘couple’ is:

(a) a man and woman who are married to each other and are neither –

i. separated under a court order, nor

ii. separated in circumstances in which the separation is likely to be permanent,

(b) a man and woman who are not married to each other but are living together as husband and wife,

(c) two people of the same sex who are civil partners of each other and are neither –

i. separated under a court order, nor

ii. separated in circumstances in which the separation is likely to be permanent, or

(d) two people of the same sex who are not civil partners of each other but are living together as if they were civil partners.

It is important to understand that the test for married couples and civil partners is different to that of those living together as married couples and civil partners. The former test has its origins in tax law, whilst the later comes from the social security system. This difference is confirmed in the HMRC compliance manual which is often useful to quote and which states:

Where the claimant says they are separated from their husband or wife you might find it helpful to consider the criteria at CCM15040 but remember the starting point is different. They are to be treated as a married couple unless the evidence shows they are separated and it is likely to be permanent.

It is also worth noting that although the living together test has its origins in the social security system, it is slightly different in that there is no requirement in tax credits that the couple need be part of the same household.

HMRC staff sometimes confuse the two tests, but the legal requirements are very different (although some factors may be relevant to both as explained below).

The importance of making the correct claim

Tax credits claimants are often shocked to find just how dire the consequences can be where they have made a claim in the wrong capacity.

First, HMRC will stop the incorrect claim. This can be a big blow to a family who have childcare costs to pay or have more than one child. In most cases it is not possible to re-claim in the same capacity as the claim is likely to be picked up by the system and sent to a compliance officer again who is likely to disallow it on the same grounds.

Secondly, HMRC will seek to recover all payments made on the incorrect claim as overpayments and may in some cases choose to charge penalties. They may also decide to go back and revise claims from earlier years so far as within their powers to do so.

There are many reasons why people make incorrect claims. Obviously some do so fraudulently, but others are the result of claimants making a genuine mistake (e.g. if their partner is subject to immigration control) or their relationship is such that they genuinely think that they should claim as a single person.

Married couples and Civil Partners

Two people who are married or civil partners will always be classed as a couple for tax credits purposes unless:

(a) they are separated under a court order; or

(b) they are separated in circumstances in which the separation is likely to be permanent.

The HMRC compliance manual states:

From the date on which a couple marry they will be treated as a married couple for tax credit purposes even if they do not begin living in the same household. They might also have been living as an unmarried couple for tax credit purposes prior to this date.

The first of the two exceptions is fairly straightforward. The second is much more problematic and more frequently used by HMRC when investigating a claim.

The starting point if HMRC assert that a couple are separated in circumstances that are likely to be permanent is to ascertain from HMRC whether HMRC are suggesting that there is no separation at all (and therefore the question of whether it is likely to be permanent is irrelevant) or whether they agree there has been a separation but they believe it to be temporary in nature.

The following parts of the HMRC manuals may be useful:

HMRC suggest that their staff should consider the ‘living together’ criteria when determining whether a married couple/civil partners are separated in circumstances that are likely to be permanent. However, whilst this can be a useful aid, caution should be used as the living together test is different for married couples and civil partners to that for couples living together as if married to each other or civil partners of each other.

There has been little case law on the issues relevant to married couples and civil partners. One leading case is R(TC) 02/06 (CTC 1630/2005) which contained the following important passage:

‘Before concluding that a separation is unlikely to be permanent, the tribunal must consider why the separation has occurred and what indications there are that the couple may be reconciled and must conclude that there is at least a 50 per cent chance of a reconciliation. It is unlikely that such a reconciliation will occur before the parties have taken steps to deal with the problems that led to the separation in the first place, and have actually begun the process of arranging to live together again. A tribunal should be slow to differ from the claimant’s own genuine assessment of the likelihood of a reconciliation, although that is a subjective assessment and the tribunal is not bound by it.’

Living together as husband and wife or civil partners

Unfortunately the tax credits legislation contains no additional guidance on what living together as husband and wife or civil partners means.

The HMRC compliance manual contains several sections that contain information which may be useful for advisers:

This test is based on social security law, and HMRC state in their manuals that they will use the criteria adopted by DWP for this purpose which include the following:

  1. Living in the same household (see also absences from the home and partners with no other address)
  2. Stability of relationship
  3. Financial support 
  4. Dependent children
  5. Public acknowledgement
  6. Sexual relationship

Undisclosed partner investigations

HMRC have several different powers that allow them to carry out investigations into claims. Two of the most common are those under Section 16 Tax Credits Act (checks) and Section 19 Tax Credit Acts (enquiries). The former is used during the tax year being investigated, the latter used after the tax year has ended according to strict time limits.

Advisers are most likely to get involved when claimants receive a letter from HMRC which may be asking for evidence in order to make a decision or could be the actual decision letter itself.

If HMRC have made a decision that the claim was made in the wrong capacity, an appeal should be lodged immediately if the claimant disagrees with the decision. See our appeals section for more information about appeals and time limits.

Although in the past compliance appeals have followed a slightly different route (initially being made to the compliance officer rather than through the normal appeals channel), all appeals are now dealt with by a central appeals team.

It is still advisable to try and have a conversation with the compliance officer who made the original decision in order to try and encourage them to reconsider the decision if appropriate evidence can be provided. However, an appeal should still be lodged within the 30 day time limit to protect the claimant’s appeal rights.

Domestic violence

HMRC have a designated team to deal with customers who are at risk of domestic violence.

If there is a risk of domestic violence in a particular case (including during an undisclosed partner investigation), you should advise HMRC as soon as possible so that they can identify vulnerable customers and take appropriate action.

All Benefits and Credits Helpline and operational staff have instructions to pass the information to the designated team.

There is more information about the procedures HMRC will take in their manual. 

Notional Offsetting

Sometimes, tax credit claimants who form a couple or who become single, either because they separate or because one partner dies, are slow in reporting the change to HMRC or have been mistaken about the need to report such a change. Yet in many cases, if they had acted promptly they would have continued to be entitled to tax credits, albeit in a different capacity.

Until 18 January 2010, HMRC would recover the whole of any overpayment arising on the old claim, but give no credit for what the claimant would have received had they made a new claim at the right time.

From 18 January 2010, HMRC introduced a new policy whereby tax credits recipients who start to live together, or who become single after being part of a couple, but are late reporting the change to HMRC, can reduce the overpayment on their old claim by whatever they would have been entitled to had they made a new claim promptly.

This new policy applies to overpayments arising from 18 January 2010, but also to overpayments that were still outstanding as of that date. So, if an overpayment has been repaid in full prior to 18 January 2010, the new policy will not apply. However, if any part of it remains unpaid, offsetting can be applied to it.

To request notional offsetting, claimants should contact the tax credit helpline to ask for their case to be referred to the ‘notional offsetting (or notional entitlement)’ team in the Tax Credit Office. If no action is taken, a letter should be sent to CSSG, Tax Credit Office, Preston, PR1 4AT.

Note that the notional offsetting will not cover the one month (previously three months) by which the claimant will be able to backdate their new claim. Normally HMRC will grant the one month backdating automatically, but if that doesn’t happen, the claimant will need to ask for it.

On the whole HMRC policy is to be lenient and not charge a penalty where the failure to report has resulted from a mistake or misunderstanding. If HMRC think the claimant has been negligent in not reporting, and there is a net overpayment even after notional offsetting has been applied, the claimant may be charged a penalty against which there is a right of appeal.

If the failure to report is dishonest (considered by HMRC to be deliberate error), the penalty may well be substantial and in such cases notional offsetting will not be given. A list of what constitutes deliberate error is available in the HMRC compliance manual (CCM10750). The CCM also contains some examples of deliberate error (CCM10755). It is important that advisers challenge any cases where HMRC have classified the case as deliberate error on the basis that they have retrospectively decided, using credit reference data, that the claimant should have made a couple rather than single claim. Unless there is clear evidence that the claimant acted deliberately, then advisers should challenge the decision not to apply notional offsetting particularly if no penalty has been charged.

More information about notional offsetting can be found in the HMRC compliance manual. The manual covers three distinct periods, prior to 17 May 2007, between 17 May 2007 and 18 January 2010 and after 18 January 2010. This is because notional offsetting applied until May 2007 when it was withdrawn. It was reinstated in January 2010 following representations from LITRG and other organisations.

You can find information about couples and repayment of overpayments in our dealing with debt section.

Updated 5 April 2013