Moved abroad: when and how should I inform the HMRC?

[gioppino]

Hello, first post here.

 

I am a EU citizen and I lived in the UK for a few years. I have just relocated back to the continent (the Netherlands, not my country of origin).

 

I spent about 10 days in the country (in hotels) before finding accommodation and I have just moved in last Friday, however according to the local laws I am technically not resident yet, because my accommodation has to be approved by the local council, which will probably happen in 2-3 weeks.

 

When in the UK, I was working full time and receiving Working Tax Credits. I informed the Tax Credits helpline that I had finished my job and was going to move abroad, they told me I had to inform them of my new address when I would have one.

 

So far so good. Now I start thinking that I should have informed the HMRC as soon as I was in the country.

 

My questions are:

1) Have I done anything wrong in not contacting the HMRC before I had a permanent address?

2) Can I wait until I have confirmation of my registration or is it better to call as soon as possible?

3) Which date should I give for me leaving the country, the day that I have left or the day that I have moved in the new accommodation?

4) Is it advisable to write a letter to the Tax Credits on top of calling them by telephone?

 

Thanks

[honeybee13]

Hello and welcome to CAG.

 

According to your other thread here, you have a care of address in order to receive a cheque from HMRC.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?412975-Can-somebody-else-deposit-a-cheque-payable-to-me-into-my-account&p=4424270#post4424270

 

Would you be able to use the same one to notify them of where you are now, possibly?

 

My best, HB

[gioppino]

Hello and welcome to CAG.

 

According to your other thread here [link removed], you have a care of address in order to receive a cheque from HMRC.

 

Would you be able to use the same one to notify them of where you are now, possibly?

 

My best, HB

 

Thanks HB. I have used the "care of" only for the PAYE section of the HMRC. Apparently the Tax Credit department has a mind of its own and don't accept the care of address. If I had given my friend's address, to the purpose of WTC I would have lived with him, or so I was told by the person at the helpline.

[stu007]

Hi

 

Have a look at this HMRC link: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/tax-leave-uk.htm

[gioppino]

I try to answer my own question, in case anybody is my same situation.

 

On the WTC award letter it says: "You must tell us about the following changes within a month".

 

On their website (cannot post link but google 'tax credits changes')

 

there's no mention of a time limit but

You can't report most changes until they actually happen

and:

Address changes

 

Tell the Tax Credit Office as quickly as possible after you change your address or phone number.

You must wait until you actually move - you can't report your new address before you move.

 

So I think I should be ok.

 

I am sorry, maybe I should have done a bit of homework.