How to renew tax credits

If you’re claiming tax credits, you’ll be sent a renewal pack that tells you how to renew your tax credits. If it has a red line across the first page and says ‘reply now’ you will need to renew your tax credits.

If it has a black line and says ‘check now’, you will need to check your details are correct. If your details are correct you do not need to do anything and your tax credits will be automatically renewed.

You must tell HMRC about any changes to your circumstances or if anything in your pack is incorrect. 

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You must renew your tax credits by the date shown on your renewal pack. For most people, the date is 31 July 2021.

If you miss the deadline your tax credits payments will stop. You’ll be sent a statement and will have to pay back the tax credits you’ve received since 6 April 2021.

From 6 April, you’ll get estimated (‘provisional’) payments from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) until you renew. Your payments may have changed based on information from your employer or pension provider.

If you miss the deadline for renewing

You’ll be sent a statement (TC607). If you contact HMRC within 30 days of the date on the statement your tax credit claim may be restored and you will not have to pay anything back.

If you contact HMRC later than the 30 days, they will ask you to explain the reasons for the delay - known as ‘good cause’ - before they consider restoring your claim.

If your claim is restored, HMRC will tell you how much you’ll get within 8 weeks of receiving your renewal.

If you do not contact HMRC at all after receiving the statement, your tax credits payments will stop and you will have to pay back the tax credits you’ve received since 6 April 2021.

If HMRC stops your payments, you cannot make a new claim for tax credits.

You can apply for either of the following instead:

Contact HMRC

Contact HMRC by phone or post if:

  • you’ve missed the deadline for renewing your tax credits
  • you’ve renewed your tax credits and there’s a mistake on your award notice

You’ll need:

  • your renewal pack (if you have one)
  • your National Insurance number
  • details about any changes to your circumstances
  • you and your partner’s total income for the last tax year (6 April 2020 to 5 April 2021)

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