HMRC is warning tax credit customers that they will need to begin renewing their claims from this week.

Around 730,000 tax credit customers will start receiving their annual renewal notices from Thursday, May 2, until June 19.

The vast majority of claims will be automatically renewed. Notices with a black stripe are automatically renewed while claimants receiving a notice with a red stripe need to renew.

Tax Credit customers are being told to renew their tax credits via the HMRC app, which allows them to track their claim and find out when they can expect payments.

Barrhead News:

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said: “Tax credits are valued by many families for their essential contribution to the monthly family budget, so to avoid payments being stopped please respond to HMRC by the 31 July deadline.

“For more information search ‘manage my tax credits’ on GOV.UK.”

Customers must report certain life changes which could affect their claim to HMRC. These include:

  • relationship changes, such as moving in with a new partner, getting married or divorced
  • children leaving home
  • a change in working hours

They can find out more about what changes need to be reported and how to do so online at GOV.UK.

If customers fail to renew by the deadline, they risk their payments being stopped and having to repay any overpayments.

Tax credits are ending on April 5, 2025, and are being replaced by Universal Credit.

Customers will receive a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions, or the Department for Communities if they live in Northern Ireland, explaining what happens next.

This letter is called a Migration Notice and customers are urged not to ignore it.

HMRC is also warning customers to be aware of scams, with criminals using deadlines to trick people into sharing their bank details or other personal information.