Taxe credits calculation confusion!

oddbunny

Can anyone advise me? I ran a calculation through thr tax credits calculator on the actuall tax Credits website, and then I did a longer far more detailed calculation on the Benefits Adviser on the directgov website. I know they're only estimates BUT they vary hugely! The tax credits one awards £1.95 a week, and the benefits advisor awards £89 a week! The problem is I need a good estimate to make some crucial decisions because if its wrong, my family and I won't be able to survive financially. Can anyone suggest which one might be more accurate, or advise who I should call to ask?
I've used turn2us as well but I've never found that one accurate either.
Heeelppp!

crazyguy

Ring the tax credits office

oddbunny

I was going to - but figured they'd just say apply and find out. By which time it could be too late. But I guess I'll have to try.

crazyguy

I would never accept any figure from these sites as an amount you will receive simply becuase they are purely guides so the only way you will know for sure is to apply and sit back and await the award notice, if you phone they may be able to give you a better estimate.

brians_daughter

The TC advisor will use the same calculator you can access on the HMRC site. Thats what they told my sister the other week anyway. She had a 'complex' situation and the guy said they only use the same calculator and would only give a true figure when she actually sent in the forms and a formal assessment was completed

oddbunny

Thanks Brians Daughter - yes i was afraid of that, sigh.

Sixer

HMRC's tax credits calculator gives a total amount from the day of calculation to the end of the tax year in April (so today, from November to April).

The others give a total amount for the whole year (April to April) regardless of when you fill it in.

Could this be the difference?

zagfles

The turn2us one is reliable as far as I know, provided you answer the questions carefully.