Thousands of people across the UK are set to receive an important letter from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) concerning final payments for old tax credit claims.
Final Payments for Historic Tax Credit Claims
HMRC is contacting 60,000 individuals who previously claimed tax credits but have since moved to the Universal Credit system. This action comes after the official closure of the Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit systems in April 2025.
These legacy benefits have been fully replaced by Universal Credit, managed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), through a process known as managed migration. The letters being sent out inform recipients that they are due outstanding money from their old tax credit accounts.
How to Verify and Claim Your Money
Fiona Peake, a personal finance expert at Ocean Finance, advises recipients to be vigilant. "It’s a good time for anyone who previously received Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit to stay alert to post from HMRC," she said. "These letters could be worth hundreds of pounds."
She also warned that scammers are likely to try to copy these official communications. To ensure a letter is genuine, you should always double-check by visiting the official gov.uk website or calling the HMRC helpline directly. Do not use phone numbers or links provided in unsolicited texts or emails.
If you believe you might be owed money, the first step is to log in to your personal tax account on the gov.uk website. This portal shows any payments or credits linked to your National Insurance number. You can also call HMRC’s tax credit helpline, but make sure you have your National Insurance number and old tax credit reference details to hand.
Staying Safe from Potential Scams
While this is a rare instance where a letter from HMRC could bring welcome news, it is crucial to stay cautious. HMRC will never ask for personal or payment details over social media or WhatsApp. Never share your bank details via text or email in response to such communications.
An HMRC spokesperson confirmed: "Tax credits customers have now migrated to Universal Credit. We’re currently reviewing historic accounts and writing to any customers we identify with unpaid tax credits, with instructions on how they can receive their payment."
The department has stated that it will continue to write to any other customers it identifies as being owed money from previous tax credit claims.
