The 31 July 2021 is the reporting deadline for families and individuals that receive tax credits. By this date they will need to tell HMRC about any changes to their circumstances or income and to renew their tax credit application. As in previous years, there is likely to be a last-minute rush and it may be difficult to contact HMRC by phone. Claims can be renewed by post, phone or online. At the beginning of July, there were still some 440,000 claims that had to be renewed.

Once the deadline has expired, anyone who has not yet renewed their tax credits should still ensure they do so as soon as possible as otherwise their payments may be stopped, and monies received since last April may have to be repaid. We would strongly advise any of our readers still to renew their tax credits to do so as a matter of urgency.

Over 2.5 million renewal packs were sent out by HMRC between late April and early June. A renewal is required if the pack has a red line across the first page and it says, 'reply now'. If the pack has a black line and says ‘check now’, recipients will need to check the details are correct. If the details are correct the tax credit awards will be renewed automatically.

Taxpayers are not required to report any temporary falls in their working hours because of coronavirus. However, other differences that could affect entitlement to tax credit claims such as changes to living arrangements, childcare, working hours, or income (increase or decrease) should be reported to HMRC.