First-Time Claimants

• 1). Fill in your application for child tax credit from HM Revenue & Customs. If you're claiming after the birth of a new child, you will automatically reclaim the tax credit from the date of birth of the child.
  
  
• 2). Ask for backdating of tax credits if you've not automatically been given them. You need to ask for a reclaim if you've been getting income support, income-based job seeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, or pension credit. Attach a separate sheet of paper with your form with your name, address, national insurance number, the date you started work and the start date of any of the previous benefits you've been receiving.
  
  
• 3). Check your reward notice which is sent by the tax credit office. A reward notice will be sent after your first claim for tax credits has been approved. Check the information is correct and inform the tax credit office if there's any mistake or omission. You'll receive a new reward notice every time you register a change in your circumstances.
  
  

Existing Claimants

• 1). Fill in the renewal form sent out in April/May and return it before the last day of July to the tax office. If your circumstances have change, e.g. you've lost your job or your childcare costs have increased, you must declare it on the review form given in the pack. This could increase your new tax credit amount and give you a backdated sum for the previous year.
  
  
• 2). Fill in and send back the declaration form of the renewal pack. If you don't send this part, then your tax credits will stop and you'll need to make a new application to backdate your credits.
  
  
• 3). Start a dispute or appeal if you think the tax office hasn't changed your tax credit with your change of circumstance. Tax credit changes are usually automatic, however, there are mistakes made sometimes, so you can launch a dispute if you think you've been left short-changed.