HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding any Tax Credits and Child Benefit customers who use a Post Office Card Account (POCA) to collect their payments that this service will end on November 30.
Around 900,000 people across the UK use POCA to collect payments, but over the last three years the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HMRC have been writing to claimants and encouraging them to have benefits and pensions paid directly into their bank accounts.
HMRC issued the warning as it emerged more than 440,000 Tax Credit claimants have still to return their annual renewal pack ahead of the deadline on July 31, 2021.
More than 2.5 million annual Tax Credits review packs were posted to customers between late April and early June.
HMRC said customers will have either received an ‘auto-renewal’ reminder or a ‘reply required’ notice. All ‘reply required’ customers must renew their claims or contact HMRC to notify them of any change in circumstances ahead of the deadline to continue receiving payments.
Customers will also have to notify HMRC of their new bank account details and are being encouraged to act now so they do not miss any payments once their Post Office Card Account closes.
Renewing your Tax Credits online is quick and easy.
Customers can log into GOV.UK here to check on the progress of their renewal, be reassured it is being processed and know when they will hear back from HMRC.
Customers can also use the HMRC app on their smartphone to:
- renew their Tax Credits
- check their Tax Credits payments schedule
- find out how much they have earned for the year
Customers do not need to report any temporary falls in their working hours as a result of coronavirus. They will be treated as if they are working their normal hours for up to eight weeks after the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme closes. Any self-employed individuals, who have claimed a Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant, will need to declare the grant payments - search ‘working out your income for tax credit/self-employment’ on GOV.UK here.
For more information about Tax Credits, visit the GOV.UK website here.
Did you receive this warning? Let us know in the comments section.
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