Child Maintenance Service
Reporting fraud or incorrect information
If you think that the other parent is providing incorrect information about their income or circumstances, you can report it to the Child Maintenance Service.
When you can report a paying parent
You can report if you think the paying parent, for example:
- does not declare all their income to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
- does not declare foreign income or foreign property they own
- hides income, for example by giving some to family members or a new partner
- is not paying enough through their earnings
- falsely claims to have financial responsibility for another child
When you can report a receiving parent
You can report the receiving parent if, for example, you think:
- they’re claiming for a child who no longer qualifies for child maintenance
- they do not live with a child who qualifies for child maintenance
How to report
To report someone, contact the Child Maintenance Service.
You’ll need to tell them:
- your name
- your National Insurance number or child maintenance reference number
- the name of the person you’re reporting
- details of the fraud or incorrect information
You cannot make an anonymous report. However, you can ask the Child Maintenance Service not to share your location or personal information with the other parent.
After you’ve made a report
Once you’ve submitted a report, the Child Maintenance Service will investigate.
If the other parent has committed fraud or provided incorrect information, your child maintenance will be recalculated. The amount can also be backdated so the other parent will pay back what they owe you.