Tax credit renewals
There is less than a month to renew tax credit claims for the year ahead. Why is more care needed this time round?
Tax credit claims need to be renewed annually in order for payments to be maintained. The deadline is 31 July each year, and so anyone who hasn’t already sent the paperwork in should be doing so as a matter of urgency. However, this year’s renewal pack contains a prompt to consider switching to Universal Credit (UC) instead.
UC is slowly replacing tax credits. It is no longer possible to make a new claim for tax credits, and by the end of 2024 existing claimants will be moved onto UC. Anyone who is in receipt of tax credits can opt to switch to UC now, and it can be a good idea as it can mean the amount received increases. However, it is essential to ensure this will be the case, as it isn’t possible to switch back. A good starting point is the benefits calculators on GOV.UK, but we strongly recommend consulting an independent adviser, e.g. from the Citizen’s Advice service, before making a decision.
Related Topics
-
Deadline to pay Class 1B NI
-
Do you need to pay tax on loyalty points and cashback?
You’ve been making business purchases on your personal credit card and reaping the rewards in the form of airmiles and cashback. What, if anything, do you need to do to keep on the right side of HMRC?
-
Welsh government plans to tweak relief for buyers
The draft Welsh Budget 2026/27 confirmed there would be no changes in the rates of land transaction tax. However, it did reveal some related changes are being planned. What’s the full story?