How to declare a birth to taxes?

The arrival of a child (birth or adoption) implies certain administrative procedures. In addition to the declaration of the newborn to the civil status, parents have obligation to declare birth to taxes. This procedure makes it possible to adapt their tax situation and benefit from financial advantages linked to the arrival of the child. Here is everything you need to know to carry out these procedures on time in order to optimize your taxation and take advantage of deductions.

Capital video: how to declare a birth to taxes?

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How long after birth should you declare your child to taxes?

Modify the number of dependent children as soon as possible

It is important to report the birth or adoption of your child as soon as possible to the tax administration. Indeed, this declaration makes it possible to adapt the rate of direct debit to the number of dependents and thus to benefit from tax reductions.

Update the composition of the tax household within 60 days after the child’s birth

The deadline to declare your baby is set to 60 days after birth. The change of family situation is online via its personal space on the tax site.gouv.fr. The declaration of birth of the child at taxes must be made at the latest during the next declaration of income as a arrival.

Who must declare the child to taxes?

In a married or PACS couple, the child must be declared on the joint declaration of the parents. In the event of separation or divorce, the parent who has the main custody of the child declares him on his personal declaration of income. If the guard is alternated, the child can be distributed among the two tax households, with an increase in the family quotient shared in equal parts.

How to declare a newborn taxes?

Here is the procedure to declare a newborn taxes.

Update your family situation in your personal space on taxes.gouv.fr

To inform the tax administration of the birth of your child, it is advisable to go to its personal space on the tax site:

• in the “Manage my direct debit” section,
• In the “report a change” menu.

After having communicated the requested information, the parent must ensure that the birth or adoption of the baby has been taken into account. Just check at the top left of the page, above the “report a change” button, that the number of dependent children has been updated. This update of the new composition of the family home makes it possible to benefit from half a share or on an additional share of the family quotient, thus reducing the withholding tax.

Note : no proof (civil status, extract from birth certificate, family book …) must be attached.

Add the child to their income tax return

It is also possible to indicate the birth of the child directly in his income declaration. Just connect to your personal account on taxes.gouv.fr and click on “declare my income”. The space is only accessible at the time of the opening of the income declaration, on April 10 in 2025.

Then, in the “dependent persons” section, the taxpayer must specify the names, first names and date of birth of the child. If the baby was born in 2024, it will therefore be necessary to declare it in the income declaration established in the spring of 2025.

Birth of a child: what consequences on my tax return?

The arrival of a child changes the family quotient, which can reduce the amount of income tax. Here are the main impacts.

Family quotient increase

A dependent child adds half a share for the first two children and an entire part from the third at the family quotient.

Tax credits and reductions

Certain expenses related to the child may be deductible or open the right to tax credits and tax reductions.

Taking into account alternating custody in the event of parents’ separation

In the event of an alternating guard, the increase in the family quotient is shared between the two parents.

What costs related to my child can reduce my taxes?

Certain costs generated by the arrival of the child may reduce taxation. They are four orders.

Childcare costs

A 50 % tax credit is granted for childcare expenses of a child under the age of six (maternal assistant, crèche, darker-day) within the limits of a ceiling of 3,500 euros per year. Or a maximum tax advantage of 1,750 euros per year and per child.

In the event of child care at home, parents create a job at home and thus benefit from a tax credit equal to 50 % of the expenses incurred. And this, up to a limit of 12,000 euros (+ increase for dependent).

Tuition fees

A tax reduction linked to tuition fees is applied for each child in college, high school or higher education. If the child is alternated and attached to two declarations, the tax reduction is shared between the two parents.

Food pensions

If a parent pays alimony for a dependent child, he can deduce him from his taxable income.

The costs linked to tutoring

If the child benefits from school support courses, parents can benefit from a tax credit equal to 50 % of the expenses incurred. This is part of the home employment tax credit and up to a limit of 12,000 euros (+ increase for dependent).