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Why it's so important to report a change straight away

Not telling the Tax Credit Office about a change in circumstance straight away is one of the main reasons that overpayments happen.

When you tell the Tax Credit Office about a change in your circumstances they'll recalculate your tax credits and send you an award notice that shows your new payments.

If you don't tell the Tax Credit Office straight away about a change they won't know about it until you renew your tax credits, usually between April and July of the following year. This could mean any of the following:

• you may have received too much money (an overpayment) from the date of the change - which you may have to pay back
• you may also have to pay a penalty of up to £300 if you’ve been overpaid
• you may not have been paid enough tax credits throughout the year because the Tax Credit Office didn’t know that you were entitled to more money

What happens if you don't report a change?

Some changes you need to report within one month, and others within three months of when the change actually happened.

You can check when you should report a change by following the link below. If you still have time to report the change, then you should do so as quickly as possible.

If you're late in reporting a change then you may be paid too much, too little, or even have to pay a penalty.

• Tax credits: how and when to report changes

• You haven't reported a change - what happens to your tax credits?

Contact the Tax Credit Office

If you need more help you can call the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 or textphone 0845 300 3909 (open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, seven days a week except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day).

If you're calling from overseas you can also contact the Tax Credit Office on +44 289 053 8192.

More useful links

• Checking your tax credits award notice

• How to avoid being paid too much or not enough tax credits

• Repaying overpaid tax credits