Tax arrangements

You should have registered as self-employed when you started to foster. You’ll need to file tax returns. Check with your fostering service what you need to do.

In your tax return, you’ll be able to claim:

  • a tax exemption of up to £18,140 per household
  • tax relief for every week you foster a child

This is known as qualifying care relief.

You may be entitled to National Insurance credits, which count towards your State Pension.

Tax exemption

In a tax year, households do not pay tax on the first £18,140 they earn from fostering. You’ll still pay tax on money you earn from a job or investment.

Tax relief

On top of the £18,140 exemption, you also get tax relief for every week (or part week) that a child is in your care. This means you do not have to pay tax on some of your earnings over £18,140.

Age of child Tax relief
Under 11 £375 per child
11 or over £450 per child

Example

Laura is a foster carer for a 14-year-old for the whole of the year and for an 8-year-old for 10 weeks of the year. She does not have to pay tax on the first £45,290 she earns from fostering:

Tax exemption = £18,140 + Child 1 (52 x £450) = £32,400 + Child 2 (10 x £375) = £3,750

Total = £45,290