Tax credits - when do we find out?

GEEGEE8

So I rang the tax office at the start of the new tax year to advise of last years earnings, and they said I would get a form in a week or two.

I am still being paid tax credits every Friday, so far I have put these to one side, will I have to pay them back?

Also, the credits have increased by £5 each week.

Sorry, just a bit confused really.. not been through a tax year before so I don't know the procedure.

TaxCreditHelp

If the helpline advised you to wait until you have received your renewal pack then once you receive it call the main Tax Credit helpline (or specialist renewal team if you've received a letter from them) and the income you provide will finalise 2009/2010's Tax Credits and renew 2010/2011. From the date of renewal it takes around 2 to 3 weeks to send you an award notice which will detail the amount of Tax Credits you will receive for the rest of the tax year. Tax Credits continue to be paid on a provisional basis until you renew and may have changed due to the annual increase in Tax Credit rates. You won't be asked to repay your provisional payments unless you become ineligible for Tax Credits. However, your payments may reduce if the income we hold as an estimate is lower than the actual income you received for 2009/2010.

GEEGEE8

I fear I may be ineligible as I now earn £15000.
I am single, rent privatly, work full time, no other benfits, 25 yrs old, no children.
Hence why I'm concerned that I will need to repay a few hundred pounds by the time it's sorted.

TaxCreditHelp

The HMRC website also has an entitlement calculator where you can enter your details and see if you're eligible. I think the cut off is around £17000 but the entitlement calculator will be able to confirm that... or the Tax Credit helpline on 0845 300 3900.

mossy

Hi, are you saying you phoned to tell them but they told you to wait until you'd received the annual review form? Or that you were able to tell them your figures for 2009-10 and they said you'd get the awards paperwork in a couple of weeks time?

If it's the first, annual review forms are sent out anytime from last week to the end of June. Once you've received that you can phone through your 2009-10 figures. You'll then receive your final awards paperwork for 2009-10 within two to three weeks.

If you're saying that you were able to give them your figures for 2009-10 then you'll receive the final awards paperwork for 2009-10 again within two to three weeks.

Either way, you can phone them at any time to tell them what you think you'll earn in 2010-11. This will help to ensure that you aren't overpaid this tax year.

You can work out (as other's have said) your tax credit allowance based on what you expect to earn this year by filling out the form online with your details. Here's a link: http://taxcredits.hmrc.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx

I think you're being really wise to try and keep it to one side in case you are being overpaid. Hopefully once you've double checked your allowance on the qualify online form you'll know how much you're likely to get.

chinagirl

I got my review letter today!! Got to wait for DH to provide his end of year wages, and then print off my March payslip to find out what I earnt, all bar a few days worth. I shall then be ringing them up.

GEEGEE8

Thanks everyone ! Only just looked at the updates..

I can't remember what they said on the phone re. what I will be getting. I haven't received anything though.

I told them that I earnt 15,000 last tax year ie. 2009/2010. But she didn't say anything more about it on the phone, just that she updated it.

I thought I saw the cut off at 13,600 ? Not sure tho.

I've done the online calculator, and it says I'm entitled to Working Tax Credits £0.00 lol - that's as clear as mud then.. :P

mossy

lol yep that's fairly clear!!

It normally takes a couple of weeks for the paperwork (that is a small forest somewhere) to arrive, plus of course they'll be mega busy. If you phoned around the 6th April, I'd probably give it another week max then phone up again just to make sure they've got all the right details.