State pensioners issued £300 winter fuel payment tax message by HMRC | Personal Finance | Finance

HMRC has issued a message to state pensioners about their  Winter Fuel Payments relating to the upcoming self-assessment tax deadline at the end of January. This winter is the first time the new system has been put into practice since the announcement of the U-turn over the previous, unpopular changes to the payments for older people.

Instead of being tied to Pension Credit, Winter Fuel Payments are again universal and issued to all state pensioners. But the catch is that those who earn £35,000 or more in a single tax year have to give the £200 or £300 payment back to HMRC in tax.

This January, the self-assessment tax deadline is rapidly approaching, with anyone who owes tax having to file an assessment and pay it by midnight on January 31.

Now, HMRC has issued a message to state pensioners who may be worried that they need to return their £300 Winter Fuel Payment to HMRC this month.

Fortunately, you do not need to take any action this month if you have received a Winter Fuel Payment and you earned more than the £35,000 threshold.

HMRC explained: “Customers do not need to include their 2025 Winter Fuel Payment, or Pension Age Winter Heating payment in Scotland, on their tax return for the 2024 to 2025 tax year as payments received in autumn 2025 will be recovered in the 2025 to 2026 tax return, due by January 31, 2027.”

State pensioners aged under 80 should have received a £200 payment already, while those aged over 80 get £300.

Couples living together see the payment divided between them.

HMRC also urged people to be wary of scams at self-assessment time. It added: “Self assessment customers are sometimes targeted by criminals and should never share their HMRC login details with anyone, including a tax agent, if they have one. HMRC scams advice is available on GOV.UK.”

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: “The self assessment deadline is less than one month away, and thousands of people have already paid their tax bill via the HMRC app.

“It is quick and easy to do, and you can also see your payment history. Search ‘download the HMRC app’ on GOV.UK to access the app and make your self assessment payment.”