WIREDGOV

Customers have until 30 November 2021 to to update HMRC with their new bank account details or risk having their tax credits or Child Benefit payments suspended.

Around 24,000 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) customers with a Post Office card account have just 3 weeks left to update the department with new payment details before the 30 November 2021 deadline, or risk having payments paused.

From 1 December 2021, HMRC will stop making tax credits, Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance payments to Post Office card accounts. HMRC is urging account holders to contact them to update their bank account details to continue receiving payments without disruption.

Customers can choose to receive their benefits and credits payments to a bank, building society or credit union account. If they already have an alternative account, they can contact HMRC now to update their details.

Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance customers can use their Personal Tax Account to provide revised account details, change their bank account details via GOV.UK or by contacting the Child Benefit helpline on 0300 200 3100. Tax credits customers can change their bank account details by contacting the tax credits helpline on 0345 300 3900. If customers cannot open a bank account, they should contact HMRC.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, yesterday said:

Time is running out for customers who have been using a Post Office card account to get payments from us. They need to give us their new account details now to avoid their payments being suspended.

They can update their details online or by calling us, and they need to be very careful to avoid handing over personal details to fraudsters contacting them claiming to be from HMRC.

If a customer misses the 30 November deadline, their payments will be paused until the customer notifies HMRC of their new account details.

The Money Advice and Pensions Service offers information and advice about how to choose the right current account and how to open an account.

HMRC has been contacting customers recently to urge them to take action.

HMRC urges everyone to be alert if they are contacted out of the blue by someone asking for money or personal information. Customers should always type in the full online address www.gov.uk/hmrc to access the correct HMRC contact information. HMRC sees high numbers of fraudsters emailing, calling or texting people claiming to be from the department. If in doubt, HMRC advises not to reply directly to anything suspicious, but to contact them straight away and search GOV.UK for ‘HMRC scams’.

Further information

HMRC has been writing to affected customers since October 2019 to notify them that their Post Office card accounts will be closing, urging them to take action so their payments are not affected.

In September 2021, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced that it has agreed a 12-month extension for its customers who use a Post Office card account. If any HMRC customers also receive DWP payments, this extension only applies to DWP-related payments.

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