Question about tax credits - filling in the form

hayley11

Hi

I'm filling in the forms for tax credits and where it asks to put in your earnings from april 07 - april 08, i've put what taxable benefits I got because I've added them up from my bank statements but I don't know how much to put in the earnings from all jobs bit, I could add that up from my bank statements too but they want it before tax. I can't find my P45 or last payslip anywhere because I know the info would be on them.

I started work on the 30th April 2007 (got made redundant at the end of Jan 07 and didn't get a job til this date) I was earning £13000 per year but I got sick in August 2007 and went on SSP sometimes in Sept and then left the job Nov 07. And then I went on IB. Should I just put an estimate? I was in the job approx 6 months so should I just put £6500? Even though for some of that time I wasn't receiving a full wage. Seems really complicated!

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

Hayley xx

cw18

I think you do need to find your accurate figures, as they can cross-check what you declare against the figures Inland Revenue have for you.

(Not sure if they do, but my figures for 2007-08 were in a mess as a previous employer hadn't given me something they apparently should have -- I luckily had something with the figures on it, but Tax Credits wouldn't accept my declared income until I'd checked with IR they were correct....... but maybe that's 'cos I told them everything was in a pickle after they sent me back a pack with totally different figures to those I'd quoted )

hayley11

I just noticed on the form you can say whether the amounts were estimated or not? So I've ticked that. They're the inland revenue, if they've not a record of my income I don't know who has!!

[Deleted User]

Try your best to work out the figure - even slightly overestimate a little - and put this figure on the form. Make sure to tick the box to say you have used an estimate.

You will be sent an annual review next year and it will ask for your 2007/08 & 2008/09 income details.

You can write to your local tax office to ask them for a copy of your pay & income tax details for 2007/08 as you are unable to find them.

If your estimate is quite a bit out you can call TCO to correct the income you put on your claim form.

Don't delay in sending your form because you dont have the exact figures right now - as long as you get the figures to them when they ask you are ok.

[Deleted User]

hayley11 wrote: »

I just noticed on the form you can say whether the amounts were estimated or not? So I've ticked that. They're the inland revenue, if they've not a record of my income I don't know who has!!

It is part of the "agreement" that you are responsible for declaring your income to TCO.

The resources are there to verify the income if the is suspicion or a random compliance enquiry. However the time taken to check the income from all sources - salary, benefits, bank interest etc - takes far too long and would result in a very long processing time.

Initially you are taken on your word regarding your income. But this doesnt mean that you can under-declare your income to bump up the amount you are awarded every claim is automatically risk assessed when it is read by the tax credits computer.

As I said above, you are best to give the estimate and in the mean time contact your local tax office to get the tax & income details sent to you.

System

hayley11 wrote: »

I just noticed on the form you can say whether the amounts were estimated or not? So I've ticked that. They're the inland revenue, if they've not a record of my income I don't know who has!!

HMRC should have all your employment income details, providing your employers told them, but they are not TCO. Only a few TCO staff have access to the HMRC PAYE and SA computer systems and DWP systems. This is apparently for Data protection reasons.
HMRC will tell you what income figures they have on record and your local DWP or SSA office will be able to give you your "Actual" taxable benefit figure. Once you have them you can update TCO with the accurate figures.

hayley11

subsoniccoyote wrote: »

It is part of the "agreement" that you are responsible for declaring your income to TCO.

The resources are there to verify the income if the is suspicion or a random compliance enquiry. However the time taken to check the income from all sources - salary, benefits, bank interest etc - takes far too long and would result in a very long processing time.

Initially you are taken on your word regarding your income. But this doesnt mean that you can under-declare your income to bump up the amount you are awarded every claim is automatically risk assessed when it is read by the tax credits computer.

As I said above, you are best to give the estimate and in the mean time contact your local tax office to get the tax & income details sent to you.

I'm not under-declaring to bump up the amount I get :eek:, I think i've worked it out quite accurately to be honest and as soon as I do have the correct information i'll give it to them.

Mine and my partners earnings are seriously lower than they were last year and I know the exact figures for that so that seems more important than what I earned last year.

sheilavw

My friend didnt know about the family tax credit, the one that replaced married mans allowance so hasnt been getting the £10 a week. Will she be able to claim now, dont suppose there will be any back pay?

cw18

they'll only back date 3 months

clairec79

Give them your estimate (mark as estimated) then ring them up and ask to change for this years income - make sure you over estimate a little for this year though, just in case

hayley11

Don't understand why I would overestimate for this year though? Surely that's asking them to pay me less than i'm actually due? The income for this year is completely different to last year.

I have marked as an estimate though.