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What is a tax credit check?

Tax credit checks are when the Tax Credit Office checks all the information you've given them. There are two types of check:

• a check of your claim for the current tax year - known as an 'examination'
• a check of your award for a previous tax year - known as an 'enquiry'

A tax year starts on 6 April in one year and finishes on 5 April in the next.

If the Tax Credit Office decides to check your award or claim, they'll write and explain what happens during the checking process. They'll also:

• ask for more information to help them understand your circumstances
• look at your award or claim in full
• explain your rights for example your right to appeal against the result of the check or any penalty
  

What you'll need to do if your claim is checked

The Tax Credit Office may ask you for copies of:

• bank and building society statements
• credit and charge card statements
• mortgage statements or rent books
• Council Tax bills
• Housing Benefit claims
• household bills
• payslips or other proof of your income
• information about your personal circumstances

They may also ask for information from people like your employer or childcare provider.

If the Tax Credit Office asks you for original documents, including passports or other identity documents, they will return them securely. But the Tax Credit Office may keep any documents you've given them if they believe they are:

• not genuine
• not actually yours
  

• Tax credits - what paperwork should you keep?

What happens if you don't respond?

If you don't provide the information by the date shown on the letter the Tax Credit Office can reduce or stop your payments. They may also charge you a penalty.

So you need to:

• tell them if you can't send the information they've asked for
• explain why there's a delay in providing the information

Let the Tax Credit Office know if you can't send the information and the reason why.

What happens when you've sent in all the information?

The Tax Credit Office may cut or stop your payments if they find:

• your payments are too high
• they shouldn't be paying you any tax credits at all
  

They may ask you to repay any money they've overpaid.

If they're paying you too much because you were careless or dishonest when you made your claim, you may also have to pay a penalty.

If they find you're not getting enough tax credits, they'll increase your payments.

Asking someone to help you

If you'd like help and advice you can talk to:

• an organisation like Citizens Advice or Community Legal Advice
• a professional adviser

You can ask them to talk to the Tax Credit Office on your behalf. But they can't talk to anyone without your permission.

If you do ask someone to act for you, you will need to give them permission, either by completing a special form or by writing a letter and sending it to the Tax Credit Office.

• You want someone to act on your behalf for tax credits - what to do

• Get advice from Citizens Advice Opens new window

• Contact Community Legal Advice Opens new window

Your rights during a tax credits check

If the Tax Credit Office checks your tax credits award you've got the right to:

• appeal against the decision
• appeal against the result of the check
• appeal against a penalty
• be treated fairly - and complain if you're not

• Find out how to appeal

• Find out how to make a complaint

More useful links

• Tax credit penalties

• Tax credit fraud

Useful contacts

• Tax Credit Helpline - contact details