Because I lose this number every year I thought I’d put it on the blog. And I thought you might need it too. If you are doing a Child Tax Credit return and you are an Anglican clergy family (or, I’m told, a spy or other sort of strange profession, but I’m also told it only applies to Anglican clergy – a perk of the established church, perhaps), you don’t call the number they have on the Child Tax Credit form. That would be too obvious.
You have to call their special secret number: 0345 302 1493. And unlike the main number, it is only open Monday-Friday from 8.30-5pm. Today it is experiencing ‘high call volumes’. And you only have until 31st July to call them. But at least you won’t spend hours on hold to the wrong number first….
The Vicar's Wife 
Thank you – I’ve shared it in a clergy spouses FB group I’m part of. Do you think this magic number is relevant to ordinands’ families? I’ve just filled in our renewal forms.
I don’t think so, but let me know if you find out differently. I suspect that it’s only when you start receiving strange things like HLC (Heating, Lighting and Cleaning allowance) that it gets too complex (or secret) for normal tax offices.
Getting a straight answer from the benefit service in general is a difficult task,secret number or not actually getting to a point of understanding is a nightmare.
Being a in the clergy or any profession filling out the forms is a nightmare and knowing what your entitled to is another matter all together.
what’s rather amusing is that this number s clearly so protected, your blog post is still the top google hit for ‘clergy tax credit number.’
Ha! At least I beat HMRC at something!
Thank you very much for this – like you I lost the number so am very thankful your blog came up when I googled the information!
Very glad to have been of service!