Tax Credit Office Telephone Number: 0871 472 1670
Calls Cost 13p per minute plus your company's access charge

family working out tax-credit

Tax Credit

Tax Credit Office Telephone Number: 0871 472 1670
Calls Cost 13p per minute plus your company's access charge

Tax credit is a social safety net programme designed by the government to assist financially distressed citizens and families. Tax credit is an evolution of two previous state welfare programmes - the Family Credit (1986-1999) and Working Families Tax Credit (1999-2003). The 14 year-old scheme is now being gradually phased out and will be replaced by the Universal Credit program effective from late 2017 (although existing claimants will remain with tax credit until 2019).

If you would like to seek financial assistance under the tax credit programme, please use the telephone numbers below to get in touch HMRC’s Tax Credit Office about making a claim.

BY TELEPHONE

Tax credit helpline: 0871 472 1670 Calls Cost 13p per minute plus your company's access charge
Tax credit textphone helpline: 0345 300 3909 (for the hearing-impaired)
Tax credit helpline (calling from abroad): +44 2890 538 192

Operating Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Mondays to Fridays), 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Saturdays), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Sundays). The helpline closes three days each year on Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

First time callers will be subjected to a verification process using data from Experian, a credit agency. You will asked to provide your full name, date of birth and National Insurance number, followed by random questions from your credit data.

Based on information provided by HMRC, the best time to call is on Sundays owing to low call volumes. During weekdays, HMRC suggests calling between 8.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Please note that calls to telephone numbers starting from 0345 will cost up to 9p per minute from landlines and up to 55p per minute from mobile phones.

BY WEBCHAT

You have the option of speaking directly to an HMRC staff by using the Webchat function. Copy and paste the URL below to your browser’s address bar, navigate to the Webchat section and click the underlined ‘Speak to an adviser now’ sentence. A pop up window will appear (you may need to enable the Javascript prompt from your browser). Fill in the required details, click ‘Start Chat’, and wait until someone responds to the chat request. It may take a few minutes.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/tax-credits-enquiries

BY HMRC APP

If you own a smartphone (either iPhone or Android), you can use the HMRC App to file a tax credit renewal and check on payment status. Simply download the app to your phone. If your phone has a fingerprint identification feature, enable the function on the app to prevent anyone else from accessing the data.

TAX CREDIT QUALIFICATION CRITERIA

You may apply for a tax credit if you fall under the following categories:

Aged between 16 and 24 and have a child
Age between 16 and 24 and have a qualified disability

Thereafter, you must fulfil the following requirements:

Maximum qualifying income threshold (maximum £13,000 for single individual and £18,000 for couples)
Work a minimum number of hours weekly (between 16 and 30 hours, depending on circumstances)
Paid for the work performed

You are not allowed to apply for tax credit if you are already claiming Universal Credit.

Image courtesy of HMRC

HOW TO MAKE A TAX CREDIT CLAIM

You will first need to obtain a claim form. Call the tax credit helpline at 0345 300 3900. You will be asked a few questions to determine whether you qualify for the tax credit. Alternatively, you may also use the HMRC online tool to assess your qualification. If you qualify, a claim form will be sent to you. It can take up to two weeks for the form to arrive.

* Be careful – you can be fined up to £3,000 for providing false verbal or written information.

Use the attached guidance notes to help you fill the claim form. Once completed, mail the form with copies of required documents to:

HM Revenue and Customs - Tax Credit Office Liverpool
L75 1AZ
United Kingdom

It may take the HMRC up to five weeks to review your application. If the claim is approved, the money will be credited into your bank account either weekly or once every four weeks.
If your employment or financial circumstances have changed, you are required to notify the Tax Credit Office using either the online form or by writing directly to HM Revenue and Customs, Tax Credit Office, BX9 1ER. Your tax credit amount will be adjusted accordingly based on the information provided.
Your tax credit will be reviewed and renewed on a yearly basis. As such, when the Tax Credit Office mails in a renewal form, read the requirements carefully and send the completed form with the required attachments to:

HMRC - Tax Credit Office Comben House Farriers Way Netherton L75 1AX

It is advisable to keep copies of all of your forms for future reference. Ideally, all letters sent to the Tax Credit Office should use the Post Office’s Confirmed Services.

Note: You can use HMRC’s Tax credits calculator to calculate an estimate of how much tax credit you might receive.

CHANGES TO TAX CREDITS FROM 2017

The passing of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 on 8 March, 2012 introduced a new comprehensive benefits system called the Universal Credit. It is designed to gradually absorb all six income-based social programs (Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, income based Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support) by late 2017. However, existing claimants for tax credits will continue to renew with the Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit programs until 2019. Claimants who submit a change in circumstances form, on the other hand, may be requested to file a new claim under Universal Credit. In such instances, HMRC will notify claimants in writing.

As of April 2016, change in circumstances notification threshold for income changes has been reduced from £5,000 to £2,500. Similar to previous years, Tax Credit Office must be informed of any changes in income within 30 days. Otherwise, any overpayment will have to be paid back. For those whose incomes have fallen, prompt notification will ensure a quick adjustment for higher credit amounts.

Further, changes under the Child Tax Credit scheme mean a third child born after 6 April 2017 will no longer be eligible to receive a child element tax credit (about £53 a week). Nevertheless, Child Benefit assistance and Disability Living Allowance will not be affected.

Universal Credit. Image courtesy of HMRC.

USEFUL TAX CREDIT URLS:

GOV.UK WEBSITE:

Disclaimer

The phone number listed on this page is a premium number of an IVR directory service voice index.
Calls to 0871 numbers cost up to 13p/min plus your phone company’s access charge.
contactphonenumbers.co.uk is not associated in any way with the companies listed on this website
The phone numbers listed on this site may not be the direct number to the business customer service department.
You can contact the companies displayed in this page, free of charge, via their website
Callers must be 18 years plus and have the bill payer’s permission.
Calls cost 13p/min plus your phone company’s access charge

VIDEO: Working Tax Credits