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This calculator tells you roughly how much tax credits you could get. It estimates the total amount you could get - in a lump sum - from today's date to the end of this tax year. The calculator uses current rates (it can't calculate tax credits for future years). It will be updated from 6 April 2013. It should take 10-15 minutes to complete.
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It’s important to remember that the calculator can only give you an estimate of what you might get, based on the answers you give.
You should take care to answer the questions correctly, as this could make a difference to the result you get. There are also some extra steps you may need to take before you answer some of the questions. These are explained in the sections below.
For a more accurate idea of what you might be able to get you can call the Tax Credit Helpline.
Contact details for the Tax Credit Helpline
Before you start, it's a good idea to have the following information to hand:
The calculator asks you for your income for the last tax year. But if your income for this tax year is likely to be lower, you might need to type in a different amount.
Follow the guidance that applies to you below, to help you find out what amount to type in. This will help you get a better idea of how much tax credits you could get.
This tax year is 6 April 2012 to 5 April 2013.
Step one. Take your lower income.
Step two. Add £2,500 to it. This is because the Tax Credit Office ignores the first £2,500 of the income drop when working out your payments, but the calculator can’t.
Step three. Type your answer into the calculator.
For example, your income for the last tax year was £30,000. But you estimate that your income will drop to £20,000 for this tax year (6 April 2012 to 5 April 2013). You need to type £22,500 into the calculator. This is worked out like this:
£20,000 + £2,500 = £22,500.
Enter last year’s income into the calculator.
For example, your income for the last tax year was £23,000. You estimate that your income will drop to £21,000 for this tax year (6 April 2012 to 5 April 2013). You should type your income of £23,000 into the calculator, because the drop in your income is less than £2,500.
It's important to know that when you make your actual claim, you must enter last year's income on the form. Your first tax credits award is always based on your previous year's income.
Once you've got your award notice, tell the Tax Credit Office straight away if your income is going to be lower. You can do this by calling the Tax Credit Helpline. Your lower income could mean your payments go up - but it depends on how much your income goes down by.
Contact details for the Tax Credit Helpline
If your childcare costs vary from week to week, do not use the worksheet provided with the calculator. You can get help with working out your average weekly costs instead by:
Childcare costs - how to work them out for your tax credits claim
Contact details for the Tax Credit Helpline
The calculator asks if one of you is working 16 hours a week or more, and the other person is incapacitated, in hospital or in prison.
You should answer that one of you is incapacitated, in hospital or in prison if both of the following apply:
This calculator will give you an idea of how much you could get, based on the information you give.
The figure you see will be the total amount you could get between today's date and 5 April 2013. It is calculated using the current tax credits rates.
Although you will see your result as a lump sum, this will normally be paid in instalments every four weeks.
You can only order a claim pack by calling the Tax Credit Helpline. You can't apply online.
Once you've filled out the claim form, if you qualify, you'll get an award notice telling you what your payments will be.
You can also get an idea of the tax credits you could get by using some 'at a glance' entitlement tables. The tables show roughly what you could get in total for the whole year ending on 5 April 2013.
