You must be authorised to talk to the Tax Credit Office about someone else’s tax credits. If you’re not, every time you call that person must first confirm their identity and say they’re happy for you to act for them.

Get authorised

Send form TC689 to the Tax Credit Office. This must be signed by the person (or persons if it’s a joint claim) you’re representing.

The authorisation lasts 12 months unless a different end date is put on the form. It usually takes 2 days to get authorised from when your form is received but can take longer if you send a letter instead of form TC689. Usually, you won’t get a letter confirming your authorisation.

More than one person can be authorised but each one must send a TC689 form.

Download 'Form TC689, Authorise someone else to act on your behalf' (PDF, 75KB)

Tax Credit Office
Preston
PR1 4AT

Tax credits will not be paid into your account unless you're the appointee.

If you act for a lot of clients

Write to the Tax Credit Office to register as an ‘intermediary organisation’ if you work in the voluntary sector and act for many people.

You can get urgent authorisation online if you’re an intermediary organisation and you have a completed TC689.

Use form 64-8 if you’re a paid agent.

Cancel an authorisation

An authorisation can be cancelled by writing to the Tax Credit Office.

You can apply for the right to deal with the tax credits of someone who can’t manage their own affairs, eg because they're mentally incapable or severely disabled.

This is called becoming an ‘appointee’.

You're not an appointee if you just help someone complete their claim form.

Applying to become a tax credit appointee

Complete the appointee section on the tax credit claim form explaining why the claimant can’t complete and sign the form.

You must be over 18 and have a bank account. You don’t have to be a relative.

The Tax Credit Office may contact you for more information before deciding whether to make you an appointee or not.

Your responsibilities

You must:

• sign the tax credit claim form
• renew the tax credits claim
• report any changes which affect how much money the person gets
• tell the Tax Credit Office if you’re no longer the appointee

Any tax credits the person gets are paid directly into your bank account. If you make a false or misleading application you may be charged a penalty.

The claimant is responsible for paying back overpayments. Their tax credits may be reduced or you may be asked to make a direct payment on their behalf.

Stop being an appointee

Write to the Tax Credit Office within 1 month of when you want to stop being the appointee.

Tax Credit Office
Preston
PR1 4AT

Your child is under 16

If your child has a baby, you can make the claim for both of them if they live with you. The money will be paid to you.

Your child is over 16

Your child can make the claim themselves if they’re over 16 and have a baby.

You can make the claim for them if both the following apply:

• your child and their baby live with you
• your child is in approved education or training

You must stop claiming tax credits for your child if they start claiming tax credits for themselves. Phone the helpline to stop claiming tax credits.

Tax Credit Helpline
Telephone: 0345 300 3900
Textphone: 0345 300 3909
Outside the UK: +44 (0)2890 538 192
Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm
Saturday, 8am to 4pm
Find out about call charges