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

About 24,000 benefits claimants are affected by the change. Benefits claimants 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 claimants 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.

People receiving tax credits 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, 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.”