Helplines

Large numbers of award notices are currently being sent out. As a result, the helpline is currently extremely busy.

The Inland Revenue is very sorry that people have had problems getting through to the Helpline.

With immediate effect, we are switching several hundred advisers to the line, so that by Monday there will be - in total - an extra 700 staff available to take calls.

That will enable us to respond to well over 200,000 additional calls per week.

The helpline is open 0800 to 2000 BST, 7 days a week.

Lines tend to be quieter in the early afternoon on weekdays and Saturdays, and all day on Sundays.

If people experience difficulty getting through on the phone they can call into any Inland Revenue Enquiry Centre.

Jobcentre Plus customers can also go to their Jobcentre Plus office.

Payments

Two thirds of all applicants have chosen to receive their payment every 4 weeks.

If they sent their claim to us by 31 January and there are no outstanding enquiries they should receive their first Tax Credit payments by 2 May.

We have already paid more than 1m applicants who opted for weekly payment.

Assuming no outstanding enquiries, the vast majority of those to be paid weekly who applied by 31 January will either have received their money already or will get it within the next couple of days.

Over 3m award notices have already been issued. Hundreds of thousands are going out every week.

Emergency payments

In the small minority of cases where a payment is due and has not been received an emergency payment can be made by the local Inland Revenue office.

You will find the number under Inland Revenue in the phone book.