Single to joint claim tax year

ourkidsdad

Ive just moved in with my new girlfreind, this weekend.

She claims tax credits and has a young son.

She says we need to ring them up and change from a single to joint claim, which makes sense.

I know shw will get less tax credits due to my income, no problems with that.

What is scaring me is a tale from a workmate, he did exactly the same, ( in Nov)and they were hit with a massive overpaymnet as they worked out entitlement right back to the previous tax year, no quarter was given it had to be repayed.

So would i be right in thinking because its the new tax year, this wont happen to us and will start our joint claim from last week?, ie no backdating and overpaymnet looming?

Scared to ring as paying back an overpaymentt will be the difference between being comfortable and not.

Many thanks.

Darksparkle

Impossible to comment on this other person situation as it will depend entirely on their circumstances, when they reported the change, did they reclaim etc.

For your own situation, your partner needs to call them asap. The longer it is left, the more chance there is of an overpayment.

She'll still need to complete annual review sent out between this month and June ask this is to check what was she has already been paid is correct.

If you want to claim as a couple they will ask eligibility questions and send a new claim form. Provided you complete it accurately and keep them up to date with changes that should prevent overpayment although cannot entirely due to the way the system is designed.

ourkidsdad

Thanks for the reply, but doesnt really answer my question.

By starting a joint claim (from a single) the first week into a tax year, will the joint claim be backdated any into last tax year, thus generating an overpayment?

Darksparkle

ourkidsdad wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, but doesnt really answer my question.

By starting a joint claim (from a single) the first week into a tax year, will the joint claim be backdated any into last tax year, thus generating an overpayment?

Sorry but you asked for confirmation that it won't happen to you. I couldn't answer that because I don't know what happened to them.

You weren't living together in the last tax year so no it won't be backdated into the last tax year.

Any claim is started from the date they receive a new application form.

You can only request that it's backdated (up to one month) if your circumstances where the same at that time eg it could take a couple of weeks to get the new form and send it back and for them to receive it so you will need to ask them to backdate to the date you moved in (and the date after the single claim has been ended).

ourkidsdad

Thanks again, makes sense.

Re my freind, they did everything right, rang up when moved in etc, the reason they got a massive overpaymnet bill was they said everything she had been payed from the previous April was an overpayment as they took into account his earnings for the whole tax year.

Caz3121

there have been occasions where people have reported a change of circumstances, gave income details etc and an overpayment has occurred. Maybe this is what happened with your friend.
What needs to be done is the single claim closed (not a change of circumstances) and a brand new joint claim opened (note that it can take a few weeks for a new claim to be set up)
Your income etc will have no effect on the single claim, only the new claim

Darksparkle

ourkidsdad wrote: »

Thanks again, makes sense.

Re my freind, they did everything right, rang up when moved in etc, the reason they got a massive overpaymnet bill was they said everything she had been payed from the previous April was an overpayment as they took into account his earnings for the whole tax year.

Then either they have done something wrong or their claim is wrong.

Moving in with someone has no impact on the previous year's payments (unless that's when you moved in and didn't report it).

However if she didn't complete her annual review for the single claim then that could cause an overpayment.

Or if the income wasn't declared correctly on the joint claim or increased during the year it could cause an overpayment on the joint claim. His income wouldn't have any affect on her previous single claim.