Child Maintenance

[richardsonjdt]

Since January 2001 I have voluntarily paid child maintenance to my childrens mother of £500.00 a month for my two children. Can I get tax relief on this payment and if so how do I go about it? Thank you.

[Huw Williams]

I am afraid that the simple answer is NO. Maintenance payments were tax deductible until the rules were changed in 1988. Maintenance arrangements in place at that time had a measure of protection, but new arrangements (such as one starting in 2001) are not tax deductible.

There may be other ways of providing for your children (such as putting money in trust till they reach 18) which could reduce overall tax bills, but there is no obvious way of giving them living expenses tax free in the meantime.

Huw Williams
enquiries@huwwilliams.co.uk