In this section:
Tax credit checks
Each year the Tax Credit Office checks thousands of tax credit awards to make sure they're paying the right amount of tax credits.
On this page:
- What is a tax credit check?
- What you'll need to do if your claim is checked
- What happens if you don't respond?
- What happens when you've sent in all the information?
- Asking someone to help you
- More useful links
What is a tax credit check?
Tax credit checks are when the Tax Credit Office checks all the information you've given them for the tax year. A tax year starts on 6 April in one year and finishes on 5 April in the next.
If the Tax Credit Office decides to check your award or claim, they'll write and explain what happens during the checking process. They'll also:
- ask for more information to help them understand your circumstances
- look at your award or claim in full
- explain your rights for example your right to appeal against the
result of the check or any penalty
What you'll need to do if your claim is checked
The Tax Credit Office may ask you for copies of:
- bank and building society statements
- credit and charge card statements
- mortgage statements or rent books
- Council Tax bills
- Housing Benefit claims
- household bills
- payslips or other proof of your income
- information about your personal circumstances
They may also ask for information from people like your employer or childcare provider.
What happens if you don't respond?
If you don't provide the information by the date shown on the letter the Tax Credit Office can reduce or stop your payments. They may also charge you a penalty. So you need to:
- tell them if you can't send the information they’ve asked for
- explain why there's a delay in providing the information
Let the Tax Credit Office know if you can't send the information and the reason why.
What happens when you've sent in all the information?
The Tax Credit Office may cut or stop your payments if they find:
- your payments are too high
- they shouldn't be paying you any tax credits at all
They may ask you to repay any money they've overpaid. If they're paying you too much because you were careless or dishonest when you made your claim, you may also have to pay a penalty.
If they find you're not getting enough tax credits, they'll increase your payments.
Asking someone to help you
If you'd like help and advice you can talk to:
- an organisation like Citizens Advice or Community Legal Advice
- a professional adviser
You can ask them to talk to the Tax Credit Office on your behalf. But they can't talk to anyone without your permission. If you do ask someone to act for you, you will need to give them permission, either by completing a special form or by writing a letter and sending it to the Tax Credit Office.
Find out what to do if you want someone to act on your behalf for tax credits
Visit the Citizens Advice website
Contact Community Legal Advice
Your rights during a tax credits check
If the Tax Credit Office check your tax credits award you've got the right to:
- appeal against the decision
- appeal against the result of the check
- appeal against a penalty
- be treated fairly - and complain if you're not
Find out how to make a complaint
