HMRC tells workers to ‘check this week’ for unclaimed £2,212 | Personal Finance | Finance

HMRC has issued a call to young workers, encouraging them to verify this week if they are eligible for over £2,000 of unclaimed funds. As part of National Apprenticeship Week (February 10 to 16, 2025), HM Revenue and Customs is offering key pay and tax advice to apprentices, while also reminding them about a potentially overlooked fund that could provide an immediate financial boost.

Marc Gill, HMRC’s director of individuals and small business compliance, said: “We want to make sure that all workers are paid correctly for the hours they work. And we are reminding employers to follow their legal obligations to pay at least the National Minimum Wage when hiring an apprentice.

“You can check your pay is correct via the online pay checking tool. Just search ‘National Minimum Wage’ on GOV.UK to find out more. You can access your National Insurance number when you need it and check your pay on the HMRC app. Download it today to check the services available.”

HMRC advises workers to check four things

National Minimum Wage

Apprentices should ensure they are receiving the correct National Minimum Wage (NMW) based on their age and year of apprenticeship. Workers have a legal right to at least the NMW depending on their age and what year of their apprenticeship they are in:

16 to 18 years old and in an apprenticeship: £6.40 per hour

19 and over, first-year apprentice: £6.40 per hour

19 years old and over, who have completed the first year of an apprenticeship: Entitled to the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate for their age.

Rates change on April 1 each year. Search ‘National Minimum Wage rates’ on GOV.UK and click on HMRC’s NMW apprentice video for more information.

National Insurance number

HMRC issues National Insurance (NI) numbers to youngsters prior to their 16th birthday. It’s crucial for employees to provide their NI number to their employer to ensure accurate recording of contributions and tax, as well as to gain access to pensions and benefits.

Those without an NI number can apply for one on the GOV.UK website.

Child Trust Fund

Child Trust Funds (CTF) are tax-exempt savings accounts for children born between September 1, 2002, and January 2, 2011, with an average value of £2,212.

Upon turning 18, young adults can withdraw any savings from their account. More information can be found on the GOV.UK website under ‘find a Child Trust Fund’.

HMRC app

The free and secure HMRC app allows users to access their personal tax information whenever necessary. Features include viewing and downloading their NI number to their digital wallet, using the tax calculator to estimate net pay, checking employment history, State Pension forecasts and NI contributions.

According to HMRC, common payroll errors made by employers include failing to pay apprentices for training time, not paying for all hours worked, neglecting to raise the hourly rate following the annual increase or upon completion of the apprentice’s first year. Mistakes can also occur if employers deduct costs for items such as uniforms, tools or personal protective equipment required for the job, resulting in the worker earning less than the minimum wage.

The public was also urged to be vigilant of scams promising tax rebates, alerting them to outdated tax details or intimidating them with threats of arrest for tax evasion. Advice on how to avoid falling victim to HMRC scams can be found on the GOV.UK website.