440,000 tax credits customers still to renew claims

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding 440,000 tax credits customers they have one month left to renew their tax credits claims ahead of the 31 July deadline.

More than 2.5 million annual tax credits review packs were posted to customers between late April and early June. Customers will have either received an ‘auto-renewal’ reminder or a ‘reply required’ notice. All ‘reply required’ customers must renew their claims or contact HMRC to notify them of any change in circumstances ahead of the deadline to continue receiving tax credits payments.

Renewing online is quick and easy. Customers can log into GOV.UK to check on the progress of their renewal, be reassured it is being processed and know when they will hear back from HMRC. Customers can also use the HMRC app on their smartphone to:

• renew their tax credits
• check their tax credits payments schedule, and
• find out how much they have earned for the year.

Customers do not need to report any temporary falls in their working hours as a result of coronavirus. They will be treated as if they are working their normal hours for up to eight weeks after the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme closes. Any self-employed individuals, who have claimed a Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant, will need to declare the grant payments. Search ‘working out your income for tax credit/self-employment’ on GOV.UK.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:

“We know how important tax credits are to our customers, so we’ve made it quicker and easier to renew claims online. There’s no need to wait for the 31 July deadline – do it now by searching ‘tax credits’ on GOV.UK.”

If there is a change in a customer’s circumstances that could affect their tax credits claims, they must report the changes to HMRC. These include changes to:

• living arrangements
• childcare
• working hours, or
• income (increase or decrease).

Post Office card accounts will close on 30 November 2021. HMRC is reminding any tax credits and Child Benefit customers who use this account to receive their payments that they will need to notify HMRC of their new bank account details. HMRC is encouraging customers to act now so they do not miss any payments once their Post Office account closes. To find out how to open a bank account, visit Citizens Advice.

HMRC is urging customers to be careful if they are contacted out of the blue by someone asking for money or personal information. There are a lot of scams around where fraudsters are calling, texting or emailing customers claiming to be from HMRC. If in doubt, customers are advised not to reply directly to anything suspicious, but to contact HMRC straight away – search GOV.UK for ‘HMRC scams’ for more information.

Notes to Editors

1. Visit GOV.UK for more information on renewing your tax credits
2. Customers can get help and information on renewing tax credits:

          - On GOV.UK
          - Using our webchat service, by going to GOV.UK and searching ‘tax credits
            general enquiries’
          - By tweeting @HMRCcustomers or posting on our Facebook page with
            general queries
          - By using the HMRC app, available via your phone’s app store
          - By visiting our YouTube videos to help with their renewal
          - By calling the tax credits helpline: 0345 300 3900

     3. Contact HMRC straight away if you disagree with any of the information in the
         letter or need to tell us about any changes.

     4. Tax credits is being replaced by Universal Credit. Customers cannot receive
         tax credits and Universal Credit at the same time. 

     5. Tax credits and Child Benefit customers, who use a Post Office card account to
         receive their payments, must notify HMRC of their new bank account details
         suspended until a valid bank account is provided.

     6. HMRC’s scams advice:

         Stop:
         - Take a moment to think before parting with your money or information.
         - Don’t give out private information or reply to text messages, and don’t
           download attachments or click on links in texts or emails you weren’t
           expecting.
        - Do not trust caller ID on phones. Numbers can be spoofed.

        Challenge:
         - It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests - only criminals will try to rush
           or panic you.
         - Search ‘scams’ on GOV.UK for information on how to recognise genuine
            HMRC contact and how to avoid and report scams.

        Protect:
         - Forward suspicious emails claiming to be from HMRC to
           phishing@hmrc.gov.uk and texts to 60599. Report scam phone calls
           on GOV.UK.
         - Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve fallen victim to a scam,
           and report it to Action Fraud (in Scotland, contact the police on 101).

      7.  People can also follow the National Cyber Security Centre’s six essential
           steps to keep themselves and their businesses secure online by visiting
           CyberAware.gov.uk

      8. Follow HMRC’s Press Office on Twitter @HMRCpressoffice