How accurate is tax credits calculator!?!

blondebex

After lots of deliberation after having my second child I decided to go back to work but on a part time basis having decided that this was the best option money-wise based on the online tax credits calculator. After putting in my details it said I would be entitled to the following:
£470.01 child benefit every 4 weeks
£229.96 working tax credit every 4 weeks

I have now resumed work on my part time hours and changed my details with HMRC and found out today that I will get just over £300 every 4 weeks- much less than what the calculator advised!! As this is now the case (I did query with a rather dull advisor at HMRC today who said this was the right amount!?!) me and my partner are going to struggle immensely with bills and even just putting food on the table, is there anyway I can try and claim that they have put misleading info on their calculator or something as this calculator was the reason I decided to go part time as I would be better off than working full time as I'm not on a great salary. Has this happened to anyone else?

Caz3121

blondebex wrote: »

After putting in my details it said I would be entitled to the following:
£470.01 child benefit every 4 weeks
£229.96 working tax credit every 4 weeks

which benefit calculator gave that information?
child benefit is £20.70 per week for first child and £13.70 for additional children...so, if 2 children it will be £137.60 for 4 weeks

Tax Credits are initially based on last years household income with disregards for increased and decreases

The calculators tend to give a fairly good indication but with the child benefit number I suspect something is wrong with the one you used or the input

Placitasgirl

I think the OP might have meant Child Tax Credit and not Child Benefit?

Darksparkle

It's as accurate as the information you put in. I don't mean that to sound rude but I've seen many posts on here that haven't read the "before you start" section on the gov site which is vital if there is a change in income or haven't answered the questions correctly.

You won't be able to get more than you are entitled to based on the calculator for various reasons but the main one is that it tells you it is an estimate.

Based on the information you have given it suggests you recorded a household income of approx £11,000. Is the correct?

blondebex

Hi all,

Yes I did mean child tax credits (it was late!!) and yes my partners income is roughly £25000 and mine has dropped from 17500 to approximately £11000. These are the details which I put in the calculator along with our £320 (approx) weekly childcare costs and I've triple checked and it's definitely the right info going in and it's about £300 pcm out based on what they have said I will get on the calculator online - I appreciate it says estimated on the calculator however it asks me nothing different than the form for claiming so how can it be so out??

Darksparkle

blondebex wrote: »

Hi all,

Yes I did mean child tax credits (it was late!!) and yes my partners income is roughly £25000 and mine has dropped from 17500 to approximately £11000. These are the details which I put in the calculator along with our £320 (approx) weekly childcare costs and I've triple checked and it's definitely the right info going in and it's about £300 pcm out based on what they have said I will get on the calculator online - I appreciate it says estimated on the calculator however it asks me nothing different than the form for claiming so how can it be so out??

You never mentioned childcare in your OP, that changes things.

How many hours do you both work per week?

Does your award notice show both children in childcare and the correct amount?

Sabelt

In relation to working tax credits, I have found the calculator to be completely inaccurate. Online says I could be entitled to £466 odd every 4 weeks, but my letter said £0.00. Ive called the tax helpline and spoke to two very rude and unhelpful women and yet one guy said that that is too much of a difference and I must investigate and send more proof in etc

Darksparkle

Sabelt wrote: »

In relation to working tax credits, I have found the calculator to be completely inaccurate. Online says I could be entitled to £466 odd every 4 weeks, but my letter said £0.00. Ive called the tax helpline and spoke to two very rude and unhelpful women and yet one guy said that that is too much of a difference and I must investigate and send more proof in etc

If you post your details I'll calculate it myself.