Credits campaign 'a success'

18/05/2009

A newspaper campaign has led the government to spend more than a million pounds on doling out tax credits owed to parents.

The Sun had run stories publicising the fact that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the UK's tax authority, had seen tax breaks for 700,000 households unclaimed in 2002/03.

Typically, each family is entitled to just over £500 if they had children between the years 1986 and 2003 - and the deadline for getting in claims passed at the end of January.

According to the newspaper, "tens of thousands" of people applied to HMRC - receiving a "welcome boost during the recession".

Personal debts have risen over the last year, as the credit crunch results in stretching budgets up and down the country.

Maddy Klein, 36, told the newspaper: "We are more than a grand better off.

"We applied for the money after being told we were entitled to do so by a tax office advisor."

John Foley-Wright, another claimant, added: "The money will come in handy and pay for a few things."

Tags; Budgeting Advice, Young Family Finances,

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