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 if your circumstances have changed or 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 2020.

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 2020.

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 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 2020.

If HMRC stops your payments, you can only make a new claim for tax credits if you get the severe disability premium or got it in the past month and are still eligible for it.

You may be able to apply for either of the following instead:

How to renew

You can renew tax credits by phone or post.

HMRC will tell you how much you’ll get within 8 weeks of receiving your renewal.

What you need

You’ll need:

  • your renewal pack - if you did not get your renewal pack, contact HMRC
  • 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 2019 to 5 April 2020)
  • the 15-digit renewals reference number on your renewal pack - if you’re renewing by phone

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