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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Sam Barker

Thousands of people have days left to renew Tax Credits - or risk payments being stopped

More than 200,000 Tax Credits claimants are being warned they have just days left to renew or their benefits will stop.

Tax Credits are benefits to help working families with targeted financial support.

The amount you could get in Tax Credits depends on your income, as well as other factors including whether you have any children.

But now HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued a reminder to customers ahead of the July 31 deadline.

HMRC says around 222,600 claimants risk having their payments stopped if they don't renew their claim by this point.

The taxman says Tax Credits customers can renew anytime through its website and app.

More than 363,000 Tax Credits claimants have already renewed.

HMRC director general for customer services Myrtle Lloyd said: "It’s great to see so many customers have already renewed their Tax Credits.

"I urge those who are yet to renew to do so as soon as possible, in order to avoid having their payments stopped."

What changes do I need to tell HMRC about?

You should receive a renewal pack in the post explaining everything you need to know about renewing your Tax Credits.

Not everyone needs to take action.

If your renewal pack has a red line across the first page and says "reply now" then you will need to renew your tax credits.

But if it has a black line and says "check now" you just need to check your details are correct.

If there is a change in a customer’s circumstances that could affect their Tax Credits claim, then you must report this to HMRC.

If there is a change in a customer’s circumstances that could affect their tax credits, they must report the changes to HMRC. These include changes to:

  • living arrangements
  • childcare
  • working hours, or
  • income (increase or decrease).

Customers choosing to use the HMRC app on their smartphone can:

  • renew their Tax Credits
  • make changes to their claim
  • check their tax credits payments schedule, and
  • find out how much they have earned for the year

But HMRC is also warning Tax Credits claimants to beware of scams as they renew their benefits.

The Government department warns that if someone contacts you saying that they are from HMRC and asking you to transfer money or personal information urgently, don't do it.

Instead, check HMRC scams advice on GOV.UK before taking any action.

If someone asks for login details, the same rule applies - don't be rushed and assume it is a scammer.

HMRC said: "HMRC is also urging customers never to share their HMRC login details. Someone using them could steal from the customer or make a fraudulent claim in their name."

There are two types of Tax Credits that you could be entitled to - Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

Tax Credits are ending and will be replaced by Universal Credit by the end of 2024.

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