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Tax Credits Change of Circumstances

'HMRC Tax Credits Contact Information: Online, Phone, by Post'

TAX CREDITS: A change of circumstances may affect your Working Tax Credits. Almost all changes in family and work life affects tax credits.

You must report certain changes within 30 days to HM Revenue and Customs Tax Credit Office.

In some cases, tax credits will go up, go down, or stop altogether.

You must also report any personal and circumstantial changes involving your bank details. Use this guide to inform them when you have a Working Tax Credits change of address.

Why do you need to report a tax credits change of circumstances to the Tax Credit Office? It keeps their records current and you avoid receiving a benefit overpayment. This happens most often if you fail to report an increase in your income soon enough.

Call or write to HMRC for help with tax credits. Prepare as much information as possible before contacting them.

HMRC Tax Credits Change Bank Details or Address

Tax Credits: General Enquiries
Telephone: 0345 300 3900
Textphone: 0345 300 3909
Outside UK: +44 2890 538 192
Call charges from landlines and mobiles.

HMRC Tax Credit Office
HM Revenue and Customs
Tax Credit Office
BX9 1ER
United Kingdom

You risk a fine up to £300 if you do not report a change within the 30 day deadline. Giving false information on purpose has a penalty up to £3,000.

Tax Credits Changes You Must Report

You must notify the Tax Credit Office without delay (straight away) of changes to certain circumstances. In most cases, there is a 30 day deadline for reporting if your:

• Child stops living with you and leaves home (moves out or goes into care).
• Child leaves approved education or training or careers service after they reach 16.
• Child gets taken into custody.
• Child or partner dies.
• Costs for childcare change by £10 or more a week, stop altogether, or you start getting financial help with them.
• Childcare provider is not registered or approved any longer.
• Job starts or stops.
• Income increases by £2,500 (or more).
• Living circumstances change (examples include):
  • You start or end a relationship.
  • You move in to live with a new partner.
  • You form a civil partnership or get married.
  • Permanently separate or get divorced.
• Working hours drop below (or go above) the minimum required to qualify for Working Tax Credit.
• Working hours drop below 30 hours per week (combined for couples with children).

You must also inform the Tax Credit Office without delay if you:

• Go abroad (leave the United Kingdom) for 8 weeks or more.
• Are ill or in hospital for more than 28 weeks (as an adult).
• Receive a prison sentence.
• Do not return to work after a gap or leave.
• Go on strike and stay on strike for more than ten (10) days in a row.
• Go overseas permanently or lose your right to stay (reside) in the United Kingdom.
• Start working for less than 16 hours while claiming childcare costs (exceptions apply).

Tax Credits Overpayment Advice

Receiving money you are not entitled to is not permitted and results in a Tax Credits overpayment. In this case you would need to repay your tax credits and you may receive a penalty.

Note: You can also manage tax credits online to report changes to your circumstances. You should include the old details with the new details (e.g. PAYE reference numbers, employment change dates, and names of employers).

Changing Estimated Income

You may have estimated your income at the time you renewed your tax credits (e.g. if self-employed). Thus, you should inform the Tax Credit Office your actual income by the 31st of January.

Other HMRC Tax Credit Changes to Report

Not all HMRC Tax Credit change of circumstances have a 30 day deadline to report changes to tax credits. But, failing to notify them of some situational differences and circumstantial changes could affect your benefits if you:

• Have a baby or become responsible for another child.
• Change bank account details for Tax Credits (report this up to 30 days before).
• Change address (inform HM Revenue and Customs Tax Credit Office afterwards).
• Change your childcare provider or start paying for childcare.
• Stop receiving financial help with childcare costs.
• Start or stop getting benefits (or your entitlement to benefits changes).
• Have a member in your family who either becomes disabled or is no longer disabled.
• Have a child who is certified blind (or no longer certified).

Note: You should make a new claim for tax credits if you start or end a relationship (or your partner dies).

Changes that affect Tax Credits

Your tax credit payments may increase if:

• You have a child.
• Your costs for childcare increase.
• Your income drops by more than £2,500.
• Your rights to benefit ends or changes.

Your tax credits may go down or stop altogether if:

• Your income increases by more than £2,500.
• You did not renew your tax credits claim.
• Your award notice shows a tax credit overpayment.
• You or your partner qualify for and start claiming Universal Credit.
• Your child is age 16 to 19 years old and you did not inform the Tax Office they are in approved education or training.

Tax Credits Update Details and Management

Claimants can manage tax credits and change bank details online by updating their stored information. The HMRC government tool helps you find out how much you might get. The tax credits management service is for:

• Informing the Tax Credit Office about any changes to your circumstances (e.g. you move house).
• Finding out the amount you can get and when you will receive the payments.

Also in this section...

How to Report Changes that affect Tax Credits in the United Kingdom
Last Updated 2018