Can Working Tax Credits be Claimed for Previous Years?

Becca

I think I would have been eligible for working tax credits for some previous tax years, but I didn't claim these as I didn't really know about them before.

Is it possible to claim working tax credits for previous tax years, or can tax credits only for the 2004-2005 tax year currently be claimed?

If previous tax years can be claimed for, how far back can be claimed for?

Thank you!

Ted_Hutchinson

From CAB Adviceguide Benefits and tax credits for people in work Getting Working Tax Credit backdated

You may be able to get some Working Tax Credit for a period before you apply, if you met the conditions and could have claimed earlier. Getting tax credit for a period before you apply is called ‘backdating’. You do not have to give any reasons why you did not claim earlier. When you apply ask for backdated tax credit on your application form. You can only get Working Tax Credit backdated for a maximum of three months before the date you apply.

If you want any help with claiming backdated Working Tax Credit, you should contact an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB

Edit: In my view this CAB advice doesn't quite go far enough as there could be cases where someone was waiting for a Disability Benefit appeal or similar circumstance which, had it been awarded in a timely and efficient manner would have enabled them to qualify for a tax credit. In these cases backdating further than 3 months should be possible. Futher backdating may also be available for official error cases.

Becca

Thanks very much Ted!

I didn't know about applying for tax credits before, which is why I didn't.

I think I would have qualified for a few previous tax years due to low income, but if generally an application can only be made for the previous three months then it looks as if I wouldn't be able to get a credit for those tax years.

I should've mentioned, I'm self employed.

irs101

Becca wrote:

I should've mentioned, I'm self employed.

That's OK, we won't hold it against you & you're entitled to the same amount of tax credits as someone who is employed earning the same amount. However you do need to keep a careful eye on what income HMRC are using to calculate your payments, because it could be substantially different from the profit you calculate at the end of the year - and then either you'll owe them money or they'll owe you.

irs

iceburn

I see I am not the only person in the same boat, only just got my tax return done but have missed the deadline. It seem also this year have to be in by September according to the website. Will be doing my tax return on the bank holiday coming up.

mah_jong

Becca

I can tell you that the answer is NO...from a personal point of view,

No one told me I was elegible either. I believe it was well publisized on TV (dont watch much) in newspapers/mags, I dont buy them. Anything I did hear was in relation to families/ children. I am a single at the time earning less than 9k. I didn't know.

I was upset at the time. After all the tax people now what my earnings were, why didn't they send info......

ohreally

mah_jong wrote:

After all the tax people now what my earnings were, why didn't they send info......

This has long been a bone of contention with me. My mates wife is a tax inspector and she is very firmly of the impression that the onus is on the individual to pursue a claim and not on the revenue to inform the tax payer that they may be due a rebate or a tax credit - even when they know that someone qualifies for a payment she still insists it's up to you as an individual to make the claim.