Claiming tax credits
You need to fill in a claim form available from the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 (call charges may apply). They can also give you help filling it in.
When you make a claim you’ll need to give HMRC details of your income for the last tax year. A tax year runs from 6 April one year to 5 April the next year.
To make your claim you might need the following information to hand:
- Your National Insurance number
- Your Child Benefit reference number
- Your P60 or wage slips for the last tax year if you were employed
- Details of your income for the last tax year and your unique tax reference number (UTR) if you were self-employed
- Details of any benefits you get like Contributions based Jobseeker's Allowance or Carer’s Allowance
- Details of other income you get like savings interest, pensions or rental income
- Details of any childcare payments you make if you use a registered or approved provider, including, for example, an out of school hours club on school premises
- Details of the bank or building society account you want your tax credits paid into
You’ll get a set of notes with your claim form that will help you fill it in but don’t forget to use the helpline if you need it.
How are they paid?
Child Tax Credits are paid directly to your bank or building society. As they are a state benefit, you are not taxed on this income.
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Zainab’s story*
"I’ve just had my first baby and I’m loving every minute of it. I never even thought about getting Tax Credits until a friend mentioned that she receives Child Tax Credits as well as her Child Benefit. I looked into it and realised that because our household income was under £50,000, we were entitled to claim over £1,000 a year for the family element of Child Tax Credit, including the baby addition."
*Fictional example. |
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