In this section:
- How to claim tax credits
- When to make a joint or single tax credits claim
- If you want someone to act on your behalf for tax credits
- Tax credits - rights and responsibilities
If you want someone to act on your behalf for tax credits
If you have difficulties dealing with your tax credits, you can ask someone else to help you. You usually need to give them the authority to talk to the Tax Credit Office on your behalf. However, don't delay making your claim because if you want to authorise someone they will not be able to do anything until the Tax Credit Office has got your claim form.
Who can act on your behalf?
There are various types of people or organisations that can act on your behalf. They are often known as ‘intermediaries’, and frequently people use them on a short-term basis to deal with a particular issue.
Intermediaries can include:
- voluntary organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau
- a friend or relative
- someone who explains things to you if you have difficulty understanding English, for example an interpreter, who might also be a friend or relative
You can also get a paid professional adviser such as an accountant, solicitor or tax adviser to help you. These are often known as ‘agents’ rather than intermediaries. If you want to do this, there are different arrangements that you need to follow. You can find out more by following the link below.
Find out about authorising an accountant to act on your behalf
What an 'intermediary' can do for you
An intermediary can talk to the Tax Credit Office about your claim, help with filling in the forms, answer any questions on your behalf and smooth the process of making and renewing your claim. They cannot receive the payment on your behalf as that goes straight into your own bank account.
When do you need to authorise an intermediary?
If you just want someone to get general advice for you, you don’t need to give them authority to act on your behalf, as they won’t be asking for or giving any personal information about you or your claim. But if, for example, you want someone to call the Tax Credit Helpline on your behalf for some one-off advice about your tax credits claim, or you want them to handle your tax credits affairs over a period of time, you will need to get official authorisation for them.
How to authorise an intermediary to act for you
If you want a voluntary organisation, friend, relative or interpreter to act on your behalf, you can do either of the following depending on how long you want them to act for you:
- you can authorise them for up to 12 months
- you can get them authorised for one-off phone calls
Authorisation of up to 12 months
For periods of authorisation of up to 12 months, fill in form TC689 Authority for an intermediary to act on your behalf. Make sure that your chosen intermediary fills in the details on the back of the form, or you can write a letter giving exactly the same information as on form TC689. You must send in the original form or letter, not a photocopy.
Send the TC689 or the letter to:
Tax Credit Office
Preston
PR1 0SB
If you want the authorisation to be for less than 12 months, give an earlier end date on the form TC689. Previous versions of the form only give authorisation for four months, so if you want your intermediary to be authorised for longer than that, make sure you use the version that has the 12 month timescale on it.
If you’re making a joint claim and you want the intermediary to act for both of you, you each need to sign form TC689 or the letter.
You also need to make your claim for tax credits before the person you authorise can talk to the Tax Credit Office. So if you have not already done so, send in your tax credits claim without delay.
One-off authorisation
You can get someone authorised just for the length of a phone call as long as you are with them in person when you contact the Tax Credit Helpline. You will be asked to confirm your identity and to authorise the intermediary to speak on your behalf during the call.
What happens next?
You have to deal with your own tax credit matters until the Tax Credit Office has received your claim form and the completed form TC689. They will deal as quickly as possible with the authorisation and will let you and your intermediary know when it is approved. This usually takes about 48 hours from the time they get your letter or completed TC689.
Changes that will affect your authorisation
If you use the latest version form TC689 the authorisation will last for up to 12 months, unless:
- You have given joint authorisation, but you have split up with your partner. In this case you will need to tell the Tax Credit Office, make a new claim for tax credits and fill in and return a new form TC689.
- You want a different person or organisation to act on your behalf. In this case you will need to tell the Tax Credit Office as soon as possible, then fill in and return a new form TC689.
- You want to change the end-date of the authorisation. In this case you will need to write to the Tax Credit Office, Preston PR1 0SB. You won’t need to fill in a new form.
Renewing the authorisation
If you want to renew the authorisation, you will need to fill in and return a new form TC689, or you can send in a letter giving the same information as on the TC689. You must send in the original form or letter, not a photocopy.
You should do this in plenty of time - ideally at least two days before the deadline is up - to ensure that your intermediary’s authorisation does not run out.
Need help?
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 don’t speak English as a first language, you can ask to be put through to someone who can translate for you.
