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It's very important to report changes in your circumstances that could affect your tax credits. If you don't, you could get too much in tax credits (an overpayment) or not get everything you're entitled to. You can report changes by calling the Tax Credit Helpline or in writing, but not online.
On this page:
You can report changes by calling the Tax Credit Helpline, or writing to the Tax Credit Office.
You can't report most changes until they actually happen. The sections below tell you when to report each type of change.
Contact details for the Tax Credit Helpline and Office
You can't email, or report changes online for tax credits. The only exception to this is if you change address, and you're also getting Child Benefit.
Tell the Tax Credit Office as quickly as possible after you change your address or phone number.
You must wait until you actually move - you can't report your new address before you move.
If you also get Child Benefit, you can use an online form to report your new address or phone number. Only use the form if you also get Child Benefit.
The details will be used to update both your Child Benefit and tax credits records. So unless you have any other changes to report, you won't need to contact the Tax Credit Office as well.
If you have other changes to report, you'll still need to contact the Tax Credit Office to tell them about these.
If you don't get Child Benefit, don’t use the online form - you'll need to contact the Tax Credit Office.
Tell the Child Benefit Office online that you've changed address or phone number
Tell the Tax Credit Office as quickly as possible if you get a different bank or building society account.
You can give the new account details up to 30 days before you start using the new account.
If you've already changed your account details twice in the last 12 months, you won't be able to change them again over the phone. The Tax Credit Office will ask you to put your request in writing.
Tell the Tax Credit Office if you or your partner start working - as employed or self-employed. It doesn't matter how many hours you're working, you still need to report it.
You can tell the Tax Credit office before the job starts - but not more than seven days before.
Get in touch no later than one month after you or your partner start working.
Tell the Tax Credit Office your new employer's full pay office address and PAYE tax reference when you get in touch. Their PAYE reference should be on your latest payslip, or ask your employer if you're not sure.
Tell the Tax Credit Office if you or your partner:
Get in touch as soon as possible once any of these changes happen, and within one month.
You're laid off from work - is your Working Tax Credit affected?
If you or your partner change jobs, tell the Tax Credit Office.
If the old job has finished, you can report the new job before it starts - but no more than seven days before.
If the gap between the jobs will be:
But if there is a gap of six days or less between the jobs, don't report the new job until it actually starts. Get in touch as soon as you can after the new job starts. It's best to do this within a month. This is because if the change increases your payments, the higher amount can only be backdated by up to one month.
Tell the Tax Credit Office your new employer's full pay office address and PAYE tax reference when you get in touch. Their PAYE reference should be on your latest payslip, or ask your employer if you're not sure.
Temporary gaps in work - how they can affect Working Tax Credit
Tell the Tax Credit Office if your hours of paid work fall below the minimum for Working Tax Credit.
The minimum hours depend on your circumstances, but normally you need to work at least:
Report the change as soon as possible once it happens, and within one month.
You also need to tell the Tax Credit Office within one month if either of the following happens:
Changes to your working hours and tax credits
Tell the Tax Credit Office if you or your partner don't go back to work after the first 28 weeks of being off sick. You need to get in touch within one month after the 28 weeks ends.
Working Tax Credit when you can't work due to illness
Tell the Tax Credit Office if you or your partner don't go back to work after the first 39 weeks of maternity or adoption leave. You need to get in touch within a month after the 39 weeks ends.
Maternity, paternity and adoption leave and tax credits
Let the Tax Credit Office know if you don't go back to work after your two weeks of ordinary paternity leave. Get in touch within a month after the two weeks ends.
You might go onto additional paternity leave because your partner has gone back to work. You don't need to report this if it's during the period that:
But you must tell the Tax Credit office within a month if you take any additional leave outside this period.
Maternity, paternity and adoption leave and tax credits
Tell the Tax Credit Office if you or your partner have been on strike for more than ten working days in a row.
Get in touch within a month after you've been on strike for more than ten days.
Tell the Tax Credit Office if you or your partner don't return to work after being suspended.
Get in touch within a month after finding out you won't be returning to work.
Temporary gaps in work - how they can affect Working Tax Credit
You might expect your income (joint income for couples) for the current tax year to be more or less than last year's income. A tax year runs from 6 April one year to 5 April the next.
You might start getting a pension, for example, which increases your income. Or you might lose your job, meaning your income goes down.
When you know your income is changing, tell the Tax Credit Office as soon as possible. Get in touch as soon as you can. If the change means your tax credits go down, you could be building up an overpayment which you may have to pay back.
Find out more about changes in income and tax credits
Tell the Tax Credit Office about changes in your relationship as soon as possible after they happen - and within one month. For example, if you're getting tax credits as a single person, but start living with someone as if you’re married or in a civil partnership.
If you're claiming as a single person when you should be claiming as a couple, you could be getting too much in tax credits. Likewise, if you separate, tell the Tax Credit Office - if you don't, you might not get everything you're due.
You also need to tell the Tax Credit Office - within one month - if your partner dies.
Follow the link below for more detailed information about the relationship changes you need to report.
Tax credits when your partner leaves or a new partner moves in
Within one month after it happens, tell the Tax Credit Office if your child:
Tell the Tax Credit Office as soon as you can after:
If you have a baby, or a child joins your family, your tax credits could increase. You could lose out if you don't get in touch within a month, as any increase can only be backdated by up to one month.
New baby - what tax credits are you entitled to?
Tell the Tax Credit Office as soon as you can after any of the following stop being paid for your child:
Get in touch as soon as you can, as you could be building up an overpayment which you may have to pay back. But you don't need to get in touch if the payment or allowance has only stopped while your child is in hospital.
Also tell the Tax Credit Office as soon as you can if your child is no longer registered as blind.
Children with disabilities - can you get extra Child Tax Credit?
Tell the Tax Credit Office if your child is staying on in education or training that counts for Child Tax Credit after age 16. For example, they might be going to college to do A levels, or starting a training course like a Foundation Learning Programme.
You can get in touch up to three months before your child starts their course. It's best to get in touch no later than a month after your child's course starts - you could lose out if you delay.
It's important to keep the Tax Credit Office up to date with other changes that happen after your child reaches 16. For example, if they leave education or training or start to get benefits in their own right.
To find out more about the changes you should report, and what education or training counts for Child Tax Credit, follow the link below.
Your child reaches 16 - can you still get Child Tax Credit?
Within one month, tell the Tax Credit Office if the person who has gone into custody:
If none of these apply, you still need to tell the Tax Credit Office as soon as possible if you or your partner:
It's best to do this within a month. This is because if the change increases your payments, the higher amount can only be backdated by up to one month.
Tax credits if you or a member of the family goes into custody
Some changes might mean the help you get for your childcare stops or goes down. Tell the Tax Credit Office about these changes within a month, or you could get paid too much in tax credits. Examples are:
Tell the Tax Credit Office as soon as possible if:
It's best to do this within a month. This is because if the change increases your payments, the increase can only be backdated by up to one month.
Follow the first link below for more detailed information about the childcare changes you should report and how these can affect your tax credits.
Childcare changes - effect on Working Tax Credit
Help with childcare costs - do you qualify for extra tax credits?
Tell the Tax Credit Office about changes involving your childcare provider as soon as possible after they happen - and within one month. For example, if your childcare provider loses their registration or approval, or you start using a different provider.
Childcare changes - effect on Working Tax Credit
You or your partner might get extra payments of tax credits because of your disability.
Tell the Tax Credit Office if you no longer qualify for these extra payments. For example, if your qualifying sickness or disability-related benefit stops.
Get in touch as soon as you can, as you could be building up an overpayment which you may have to pay back.
Find out how you qualify for extra Working Tax Credit if you have a disability
Within one month tell the Tax Credit Office if you or your partner:
Can you claim tax credits if you live outside the UK?
Going abroad temporarily and claiming tax credits
Not telling the Tax Credit Office about changes is one of the main reasons that overpayments happen.
If you don't tell the Tax Credit Office straight away when a change happens, you could:
You haven't reported a change - what happens to your tax credits
