Tax credits checks

    The Tax Credit Office will write to you if they want to check your tax credits – you must send them the information they ask for by their deadline.

    Your tax credits can be checked, eg to make sure you’re getting the right amount of money.

    1. You’ll be sent a letter explaining why there’s a check and what you must do.

    2. Send the information asked for by the deadline. The deadline is shown on the letter.

    3. The Tax Credit Office will write to you with the results of their check.

    They can ask for details about your income, employment and identity. Your employer or childcare provider can also be asked for this information.

    Any original documents you send will be returned to you, unless they’re believed not to be genuine or not actually yours.

    Results of a check

    Your tax credits can be:

    • increased – if you aren’t getting enough tax credits
    • reduced – if your tax credit payments are too high
    • stopped – if you shouldn’t have got a tax credit payment

    You have to repay any tax credits you’re not entitled to.

    Penalties

    You can be charged a penalty if you:

    • don’t send the information you’re asked for
    • were careless or dishonest when you made a claim

    Contact the Tax Credit Office if you can’t send what you’re asked for – if you don’t, your payments may be stopped.