In this section:
- Why you need to report changes to the Tax Credit Office
- Tax credits: how and when to report changes
- You haven't reported a change - what happens to your tax credits?
- Family changes - how they can affect tax credits
- Changes at work - how they can affect tax credits
- Changes in income and tax credits
- Going abroad temporarily and claiming tax credits
Why you need to report changes to the Tax Credit Office
If you don't tell the Tax Credit Office straight away about any changes, you may not be getting all the money you are entitled to, or you could be building up an overpayment that you may have to pay back. The sooner you report a change the better.
Why it's so important to report a change straight away
Not telling the Tax Credit Office about a change in circumstance straight away is one of the main reasons that overpayments happen.
When you tell the Tax Credit Office about a change in your circumstances they'll recalculate your tax credits and send you an award notice that shows your new payments.
If you don't tell the Tax Credit Office straight away about a change they won't know about it until you renew your tax credits, usually between April and July of the following year. This could mean any of the following:
- you may have received too much money (an overpayment) from the date of the change - which you may have to pay back
- you may also have to pay a penalty of up to £300 if you’ve been overpaid
- you may not have been paid enough tax credits throughout the year because the Tax Credit Office didn’t know that you were entitled to more money
What happens if you don't report a change?
Some changes you need to report within one month, and others within three months of when the change actually happened.
You can check when you should report a change by following the link below. If you still have time to report the change, then you should do so as quickly as possible.
If you’re late in reporting a change then you may be paid too much, too little, or even have to pay a penalty.
Tax credits: changes you need to report and when
Find out more about what happens if you don't report a change
Contact the Tax Credit Office
If you need more help you can call the Tax Credit Helpline which is open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The numbers you can ring are:
- tel 0845 300 3900
- textphone 0845 300 3909 - if you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment
If you're calling from overseas you can also contact the Tax Credit Office on Tel + 44 289 053 8192.
More useful links
Checking
your tax credits award notice
How
to avoid being paid too much or not enough tax credits
Repaying overpaid
tax credits
