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⚠️ Universal Credit (UC) is gradually replacing tax credits, and some other social security benefits. Universal credit is now available across the UK and HMRC state that it is no longer possible for anyone to make a brand-new claim for tax credits. Instead, people are expected to claim UC or pension credit if appropriate. Existing tax credit claimants can continue to renew their tax credits and/or add extra elements to their claim. See our tax credit page for more information. Our understanding is that the majority of existing tax credit claimants will move to either universal credit or pension credit. It is expected that the majority of people who have not reached state pension age, and who continue to claim tax credits, will be invited to move to UC by the end of 2024. You can find out more about this in our universal credit section. 

How do I contact HMRC about tax credits?

Updated on 12 April 2023

Tax credits and benefits

This page details the ways you can contact HMRC about your tax credits.

Illustration of contact symbols including phones, an envelope and an @ sign

How can I contact HMRC about tax credits?

You can contact using the HMRC App, Twitter, by telephone or in writing. They don’t have a facility to let you e-mail them directly but you can do many things online, using their digital service via the GOV.UK website or using the HMRC app.

Tax credit digital services

HMRC have developed an online service called the ‘Personal Tax Account’ for all individuals to be able to transact with them digitally. The Personal Tax Account covers a variety of services provided right across HMRC lines of business, covering income tax, tax payments, Self Assessment returns and it also includes the tax credits online service.

The specific tax credit online service is called ‘Manage your tax credits’ and can be accessed either directly from this link: Manage your tax credits, or via the Personal Tax Account and following links to the tax credit part of your Personal Tax Account.

To use this service, you need to register with the Government Gateway service or use your existing account if you already use Government Gateway for Self Assessment. Each time you use your Government Gateway account, you need to have a mobile phone or landline phone nearby to receive a unique 6-digit code which will be sent automatically to you as you ‘log-in’. The service is accessed via GOV.UK.

Once into the service you can:

  • Report most changes of circumstances
  • Renew and/or finalise your tax credits (once you have received your pack)
  • Check your payments
  • Fill in and send tax credit forms – such as the dispute form, hardship request form, appeal form
  • Track forms submitted through the account

HMRC App

You can use the HMRC App if you have a compatible smart phone (most android and Iphones). It is free to download from the ‘app store’ and provides a variety of digital services across HMRC lines of business. For tax credits, you can check your payments using the App, and notify most changes of circumstances and complete your tax credit renewal once you have received your renewal pack.

Twitter

You can use Twitter to get general help from HMRC but they cannot discuss specific cases or anything relating to an individual’s personal information, so please do not give any personal details.

Start your tweet with @HMRCcustomers

Opening times:
Monday to Saturday: 8am to 8pm
Sunday: 9am to 5pm

How do I contact HMRC by phone?

The main telephone number is the Tax Credit Helpline: 0345 300 3900. You can also use NGT text relay if you cannot hear or speak on the phone: dial 18001 then 0345 300 3900. From abroad, you can ring +44 2890 538 192.

Helpline opening times:

Monday to Friday: 8am to 6pm

Closed Saturdays, Sundays and bank holiday

You can ring this number to:

  • ask questions about your claim
  • find out about your payments
  • tell them about a change in circumstances
  • renew your claim
  • find out why you have been overpaid
  • make a complaint.

You will normally be asked for your National Insurance number. This is two letters, six numbers and a final letter, for example AB 12 34 56 Z.

You might also be asked to answer some security questions.

⚠️ It is always a good idea to make a note of the date and time of your call, the adviser’s name and a brief note of what was said.

What if I need extra help when I contact HMRC?

There are many reasons why you might need some extra help when contacting HMRC. For example, it may be that you have a disability or English is not your first language or perhaps need more time because of your circumstances. There is more information on the GOV.UK website about contacting HMRC if you have particular needs or need extra support.

Can someone else contact HMRC for me?

If you need help dealing with HMRC about your tax credits claim you can give permission for someone else to do this on your behalf. There is information on our website for advisers about the various ways you can do this.

How do I contact HMRC in writing

If you want to write to HMRC about your tax credits there are a number of different postal addresses.

Renewals

Tax Credit Office
HM Revenue and Customs
BX9 1LR
United Kingdom

Correspondence relating to the 2 child limit (include the word ‘Exception’ at the top of your letter)

HMRC
Tax Credit Office
BX9 1HZ

All other correspondence including mandatory reconsiderations, appeals, disputes, change of circumstances, complaints and general correspondence 

HMRC
Tax Credit Office
BX9 1ER

Using a courier

Use this address for all post items being delivered to HMRC to either a closed HMRC site, a PO BOX or BX postcode by couriers.

HM Revenue and Customs
BP8002
Benton Park View
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE98 1ZZ
United Kingdom

You should mark your letter clearly, depending on what it is about and address the envelope to the relevant ‘team’ if possible.

  • to tell HMRC about a change of circumstances: Change of Circumstances Team
  • to ask for an explanation about why you have been overpaid or dispute an overpayment: Dispute Team
  • to ask for a mandatory reconsideration or appeal against a tax credit decision: Appeals Team
  • to make a complaint: Complaints Team.

It is a good idea to send letters by recorded delivery so that HMRC sign for the letter to confirm they have received it, or at least ask the Post Office for proof of postage if you do not wish to pay the extra for recorded delivery. Keep a copy of the letter and any enclosures for yourself if you can, and put the posting receipt in a safe place.

⚠️ Keep a file with copies of all of your tax credit forms, decision notices and letters together with any details you used to fill in your claim and calculations of how you worked out your figures.

Can I meet with HMRC face-to-face?

HMRC have had an enhanced system of support for taxpayers and tax credit claimants who need extra help dealing with HMRC. The service HMRC provide means that the telephone helplines are the initial way that customers can speak to HMRC.

Customers who are identified as needing extra help (according to criteria HMRC have developed) are then offered support best suited to them, this might still be by phone, but with a specialist telephone adviser who can deal with the queries in-depth or by arranging a set time to call or perhaps a face to face meeting with someone from HMRC at a place convenient to the customer (including at their home), calling on a team of HMRC specialist mobile advisers. More information can be found on the GOV.UK website.

More information

This page gives a brief overview of how to contact HMRC about tax credits. For more detailed information, visit our website for advisers on the following page: Tax Credits: How to deal with HMRC.

Tax guides

Introduction to the tax system How do I work out my tax? What income is taxable? What tax allowances am I entitled to? What tax rates apply to me? How is my tax collected? What if I cannot pay my tax bill? Do I need to complete a tax return? Self Assessment: understanding the basics What is Simple Assessment? How do I claim tax back? How do I claim back tax I have overpaid through PAYE on wages or pensions? How do I claim back tax if I complete a tax return? How do I claim back tax if I am taxed under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)? How do I claim back tax on savings income? How do I claim a marriage allowance refund? How do I claim back tax on a payment protection insurance (PPI) pay-out? Should I use a tax refund company? What is National Insurance? How do I get a National Insurance number? What are Specified Adult Childcare credits? What is Scottish income tax? What is devolution? Do I have to pay Scottish income tax? How does Scottish income tax work? What is Welsh income tax? Do I have to pay Welsh income tax? Do I have to join a pension scheme? Tax relief on your pension contributions HMRC digital services Enquiries, penalties, appeals, complaints and debt Enquiries How to survive an enquiry by HMRC Tax penalties Tax appeals Alternative Dispute Resolution How do I complain to HMRC? What if I cannot pay my tax bill? What if I have a tax credits overpayment?
Am I employed, self-employed, both or neither? Working through a limited company What is the national minimum wage? How do I work out my tax? What income is taxable? What tax allowances am I entitled to? What tax rates apply to me? How is my tax collected? How is tax collected on taxable state benefits? How do I check my coding notice? Do I need to complete a tax return? What tax do I pay on redundancy payments?Employment benefits and expenses What are benefits-in-kind? What payments and benefits are non taxable? What if I incur expenses in relation to my job? What travel expenses can I claim? What if I use my own car for business purposes? Payroll giving Allowances and expenses paid to armed forces personnel and deductions from their income Pensions and employees What is automatic enrolment for employees? What National Insurance do I pay as an employee? How do I repay my student loan? What if I do not pay enough tax? What if I pay too much tax? What if I work abroad temporarily? What if I am in the armed forces and work overseas? First time workers Apprenticeships

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