You have to know that tax credit awards will initially be based on your current circumstances and your income for the previous tax year. If your circumstances do not change and there are no significant changes in your income during the year, the initial award will run until the end of the tax year. You should also know that at the end of the tax year, you will receive a further notice that tells you information about your claim; in particular the circumstances and income upon which the award and the amount of tax credit paid over the year are based on.

You should check this notice carefully. You must then either confirm that the details are correct, or correct them if there were changes that you have not previously told the authorities about. Also, you have to tell the specialists about your income for the year just ended. Remember that if you only get the family element of Child Tax Credit, you don't have to return the notice if your income remains within a certain range specified in the end-of-year notice, provided your circumstances have not changed. If you do not have to give back the notice, you will be alleged as having automatically made a new claim for the following grant.

There are many different types of tax credits available to you, by contacting your tax authority you can gain access to a good deal of information.

Remember that the tax laws will change depending on your area of residence and work.