Child Tax Credit application

throwoff

Hey guys,

My wife and I are expecting our first child in the coming days, I am trying to get my head round the application for Tax credits.

My wife currently is out of work (claming Maternity Allowance)

We currently recieve no benefits.

My job pays 20,600 as a basic but my OTE puts me on around 24 over an average year.

When I apply do I put in my OTE or my basic? There is every chance I could earn no commision for months on end?!

shedboy94

The application asks for what you earned in the 12-13 tax year. You never declare your salary, always what you actually earn.

Horseunderwater

When you apply you have to tell them last years joint income to begin with - 6/4/2012 - 5/4/2013. Make sure that you include any weeks if applicable of when your wife started getting MA if they fell in last tax year as you do not need to declare the first £100/week. This will carry over into this year until she has 39 weeks in total. This may initially give you a nil award or very little. So you need to input all earnings including the OTE from last year. Then once you get that award, you can ring up and give them a revised estimate for the coming year. Be on the generous side with your commissions as you do not want an overpayment to arise and then if you earned less at end of year you will get an adjustment then.

throwoff

Cheers guys,

So basically I apply including her details from last year (she did work for about 6 months of it)

They then award me nothing I would guess at which point I call them explain she does not work at all now and they adjust it?

zagfles

Yes though be aware of a couple of things - the first £2500 drop in income from last year to this is disregarded, and if you give then an income estimate for this year try to make sure it's not too low or you could have an overpayment. On £24k (with higher income last year) you probably won't get anything, but it's worth applying in case you don't earn as much as you think you will, and you might get some next year.