Tax credit claims
HMRC are writing to some claimants to check if they are receiving the right amount of tax credit. The letter is headed‘Your tax credits award to 5 April 2011 as a single person’.
Recipients of the letter should be reassured that the letter is genuine and is part of an exercise by HMRC to ensure that they have the right details about tax credits claims by claimants and that the right amount of tax credits is being paid.
Tax credit claimants must notify HMRC of any significant changes in family circumstances as well as other changes such as stopping or starting work and changes in income. Claimants are reminded to tell HMRC promptly of changes which may result in overpayment. A failure to notify HMRC can result in claimants having to pay back the money they have received. Claimants may also face a penalty and can be imprisoned in cases of deliberate fraud.