I went in to the tax office today to enquire about claiming the SPCCC but the girl I spoke to told me that unless the mother of my child fills out the form to relinquish her claim to it then I won't be able to claim it. I explained to her that there's little or no communication between me and her so it's very unlikely that she'll sign the form but she just reiterated what she had just said, unless the mother signs the form I won't be getting the credit, they're the rules.
Was I just unlucky getting the person I spoke to or is there no leeway at all with these "rules" does anyone know?
I find it very unfair, my son's mother doesn't work and hasn't for a long time so it's not as if she's availing of the credit.
Thanks sophrosyne.
I've no problem with the primary carer being entitled to the credit and if the mother of my child was working I wouldn't expect her to relinquish her claim but she doesn't so is not availing of the tax credit, that's what I have a problem with. If she were to get a job in the future the credit would revert to her for the year(s) in question and rightly so.
Sorry for dragging this back up again but just enquiring about the case where a single parent (a widower) is putting a 20 year old through college in Cork.....he is a single parent of a child in full time education but he's not from Cork therefore the child could not be living at home for 6 months.
Is the single parent child credit not allowable in this case then? Seems harsh as the widower has actually more cost than he would have if the student was living at home and in full time education.
According to the Revenue link above, the windower is eligble to claim it.
"A child who is living away from home while attending school or college is considered a qualifying child if he or she is still maintained by you and returns home outside of term."