The number of people renewing their tax credits online on 31 July was up 25% on last year’s figure following improvements to the online service, claims HMRC
About one million people renewed their tax credits online this year which is up 25% from 2015’s figure of 750,000.
The rise in people using the online service comes after improvements to the tax credits digital service which included a new web chat function. Web chat advisers supported around 225,000 people to complete their renewal, offering customers a service to midnight and beyond as the deadline approached.
The busiest day for HMRC online was Sunday 31 July (deadline day) with more than 44,000 online renewals received.
The busiest day on the telephone was Friday 29 July when more than 32,000 renewals were received. The average phone call waiting time was under five minutes due to 1060 people from HMRC being trained to answer renewals calls from customers.
Nick Lodge, HMRC’s director general, benefits and credits said: ‘We are delighted that many so people have chosen to renew online and use the new web chat service.
But anyone that has not renewed needs to contact us immediately if they do not want their payments to stop’
Failure to renew before the deadline will mean payments are stopped and people may have to repay the money they have received since April.
Information on tax credits is here.
