How to renew tax credits
If you鈥檙e claiming tax credits, you鈥檒l be sent a renewal pack. It鈥檒l say if you need to do anything to renew your tax credits.
Let HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) know about any changes to your circumstances or if your details are wrong.
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).
If your renewal pack has a black line and says 鈥榗heck now鈥�
You鈥檒l need to check your details. If they鈥檙e correct, you do not need to do anything. Your tax credits will be automatically renewed.
Your renewal pack will say how much you鈥檒l be paid this year - this is your 鈥榓ward notice鈥�. You might need to show your award notice to get certain benefits.
If your renewal pack has a red line and says 鈥榬eply now鈥�
You鈥檒l need to renew your tax credits by the date shown on your renewal pack. For most people, this was 31 July 2024.
You鈥檒l get estimated (鈥榩rovisional鈥�) payments after 6 April until you renew. HMRC may pay you a different amount based on new information from your employer or pension provider.
If you miss the deadline for renewing
You鈥檒l be sent a statement (TC607). If you contact HMRC within 30 days of the date on the statement your tax credit claim may be restored and you will not have to pay anything back.
You鈥檒l need:
- your renewal pack (if you have one)
- your National Insurance number
- details about any changes to your circumstances
- your and your partner鈥檚 total income for the last tax year (6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024)
If you contact HMRC later than the 30 days, they will ask you to explain the reasons for the delay - known as 鈥榞ood cause鈥� - before they consider restoring your claim.
If your claim is restored, HMRC will tell you how much you鈥檒l get within 8 weeks of receiving your renewal.
If you do not contact HMRC at all after receiving the statement, your tax credits payments will stop and you will have to pay back the tax credits you鈥檝e received since 6 April 2024.
If HMRC stops your payments, you cannot make a new claim for tax credits.
You can apply for either of the following instead:
- Universal Credit, if you鈥榬e under State Pension age (or your partner is)
- Pension Credit, if you (and your partner) are over State Pension age
If there鈥檚 a mistake on your award notice
Contact HMRC if you鈥檝e renewed your tax credits and there鈥檚 a mistake on your award notice.