Tax Credits Overpayments - Who can the overpayment be recovered from?

Overpayments are recoverable from you, if the overpayment was made on your claim as a single person, or from you and your partner (or former partner), if the overpayment was made on your joint claim as a couple.

If you have separated from a partner, you should not normally be asked to repay more than 50% of the overpayment. You can agree with your former partner to pay different proportions of the overpayments each – example, one paying 30% and the other 70%. However, if this agreement is not kept, you may be asked to repay at least 50% of the remaining debt.

HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC's) 'Tax Credits: happens if I've been paid too much' guidance has more information about recovery of tax credit overpayments.