More time given due to industrial action
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is giving tax credit customers an extra week to renew their tax credits claim – if they have not already done so. This is in response to industrial action taking place this week.
HMRC appreciates that customers may find it more difficult to get through to the tax credits renewal phone line as a result of the industrial action. While customers who can are encouraged to use the new online renewal service, those that need to speak to an operator now have until Wednesday 6 August to renew.
Tax credits customers with changes to declare must now tell HMRC by the 6 August or they will lose their tax credits. This year, customers can renew their tax credits online for the first time at www.gov.uk/renewtaxcredits. As well as the online service, customers can send their tax credits declaration to HMRC by post, or self-serve on the phone using the new automated speech-recognition service on the tax credits helpline, by saying ‘Renewals’ when prompted.
Lin Homer, Chief Executive of HMRC, said:
“We are very disappointed by the timing of the decision by PCS to call a strike to coincide with the tax credits renewal deadline. It is a great shame that the union is asking HMRC staff to strike, deliberately putting the livelihoods of hard-working families at risk to further an industrial dispute.
“We are giving people additional time to renew as we are determined to do everything we can to minimise the impact on tax credits claimants. We urge them to renew online at www.gov.uk/renewtaxcredits to avoid the long delays on the phone that will be caused by the strike."
July 30, 2014
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