Tax credits: working 16 hours?

lil'H

I am self employed, and tax credits only have my word on how many hours I do. I keep a diary and it averages out at 16 though some weeks can be 8 others 32. I asked about this and they said as long as it is usualy 16 hours its fine. If you take time off that is fine, but if you have more than 4 weeks of you won't be entitled. It really is confusing, but just keep a record and try and ensure on average it's 16 and you shouldn't have a problem.

lil'H

missk_ensington

CIS wrote:

Sorry, I wasn't reading properly - I thought you meant could the TCO see from the figures you gave them how many hrs you worked.

Are you sure? So someone could indeed work 10 hours at £10, and claim 16 hours at £6?

missk_ensington

lil'H wrote:

I am self employed, and tax credits only have my word on how many hours I do. I keep a diary and it averages out at 16 though some weeks can be 8 others 32. I asked about this and they said as long as it is usualy 16 hours its fine. If you take time off that is fine, but if you have more than 4 weeks of you won't be entitled. It really is confusing, but just keep a record and try and ensure on average it's 16 and you shouldn't have a problem.

lil'H

Thanks, it does avergae 16 because twice a quarter I have to go to London for Board Meetings and I'll do 14 hours in one day, and other times, like this week I'm in the office by myself working full time to cover holidays. But then next week I'm in London for my own purposes, and will only do 12 hours. Very confusing.

However, if you didn;t avergae 16 hours, I don't see how they cold possibly know as your P60 only states your annual earnings not how many hours you;ve worked that year

CIS

Think it about it - if they only see your P60, which only shows wages,without contacting your employer - how would they know ?

Providing you didnt say, declare earnings of £100 a week and 30hrs, obviously that would be below minimum wage and probably flag the account.

CIS

I am self employed, and tax credits only have my word on how many hours I do. I keep a diary and it averages out at 16 though some weeks can be 8 others 32. I asked about this and they said as long as it is usualy 16 hours its fine. If you take time off that is fine, but if you have more than 4 weeks of you won't be entitled. It really is confusing, but just keep a record and try and ensure on average it's 16 and you shouldn't have a problem.

are you remebering to include book keepin and going to suppliers etc etc ?

astonsmummy

I asked someone at tax credits about this coz sometimes i wanted to do the odd extra night shift and he said as long as it's not regular it's fine, i think thee is a certain amount you can earn above the figure you give them so if at the next review they see your p60 and you have earned over the amount they would adjust your award for the next year.
Not sure how right he was tho

lil'H

CIS wrote:

are you remebering to include book keepin and going to suppliers etc etc ?

Yep, paperwork, book keeping, anwering phone (that really adds up I often recieve calls on non work days, which I jot down), cleaning my office space, driving to suppliers, adviertisement locations etc (often make sure that I plan the route to mean that I am at a client next to son's nursery at end or start of day, that way I get away with claiming the milage and time for my whole day! Um checking emails, website maintenece, shouting at printer when it isn't working! etc etc etc In fact the majority of my hours is this type of prep stuff rather than actual client appointments etc.

Only recently started so can't say whether anyone will ever ask to see diary but I prefer to have it just in case any one ever questions!

Fran

***Boardguide comment***

As this thread appears to be asking for advice on committing fraud, I have reported it and closed it.