Child Tax Credits & Pension Contributions

emmap2781

Hi,

I've just received my yearly Child Tax Credits form and I've noticed something in the crib sheets that I hadn't before.

My husband pays a compulsory 11% of his salary into a police pension. Does this mean I take this 11% off his gross salary as the total income figure I enter on the form? We've been claiming Child Tax Credits for a year and I've never done this before?

Also, I didn't realise until now that the weekly figure for child care costs does not include the salary sacrifice vouchers / cheques we receive from our employer which is half of the total figure. Is it likely I'll end up owing them money because of this?!

When I started claiming originally it was all done by phone and they just asked for our gross salaries and total child care costs. Now it seems that these two figures may be wrong with my husbands pension contributions and salary sacrifice taken into account. I've always been honest about these figures but it seems I've been ignorant of these two factors!

Help would be very much appreciated!

karenx

Unsure about pensions but you will definatly have an overpayment for childcare. You give your costs minus the amount you get from the vouchers. Just now you are claiming twice for your childcare. You need to notify them immidiatly so they can work out what you owe back

flea72

if his pension is taken out at source, then no you shouldnt deduct the amount he pays, from the figure on his P60

as for the childcare, you should only have declared the amount you actually have to pay in cash, to top up your vouchers

F

Rince

Agree with above comments. The figure on his P60 will already have taken off the pension payments, as they are paid before tax. You definitely have to give the figure for childcare costs minus the vouchers and if your child is over 3 then also minus the goverment free places (5 x 2.5 hours per week for 39? weeks of the year) and calculate an average. Hope that helps, I know it's confusing !