Tax Credit renewals

People need to renew by 31 July 2012 deadline via DWP’s Touchbase e-zine (April 2012)

HMRC and Jobcentre Plus are encouraging people to renew their tax credits before the deadline of 31 July 2012. As in previous years, Jobcentre Plus claimants will be among the first to receive their renewal packs, starting from week commencing 24 April 2012.

People who have been in continuous receipt of the following for all of the 2011 to 2012 tax year will have their award auto-renewed:
• Income Support (IS)
• Income-Based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA(IB))
• Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA(IR))
• Pension Credit
These people will be sent form TC603R (Annual Review form) and only need to contact HMRC if their circumstances have changed. Guidance notes provided with the form will tell them what changes they need to report. They will not receive a new Tax Credit award notice and must retain this form as proof of ongoing entitlement. This will affect approximately 830,000 people.

If someone has received a form TC603D or TC603D-2 (Tax Credits Renewal Declaration), they must provide a declaration to HMRC before 31 July 2012 or their payments will stop and they will have to pay money back.

Jobcentre Plus will help people who ask for help to complete their renewal form. Past experience has shown that people come to Jobcentre Plus to ask for a crisis loan if their Tax Credit payment is stopped. This can be avoided if they renew their Tax Credit claim on time.

Tax credits can be renewed by:
• ringing the Tax Credits Helpline on 0345 300 3900, or
• returning completed renewal notices in the post.

Read more information about Tax Credits (HMRC website)

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