Tax credits questionnaire - find out how much you can get

Using this calculator will help you to find out roughly how much tax credits you might be entitled to. The calculator should take no more than 10-15 minutes to complete.

On this page:

Before you start
Your results
Go the questionnaire
More useful links

Before you start

Before you start, it's a good idea to have the following information to hand:

details of your own and your partner's (if you have one) income - your P60 for the year ended 5 April 2010 would be ideal
details of any benefits you are claiming, or have just stopped claiming
your usual working hours
the average amount you spend each week on childcare

If your income is likely to be lower this year than for last year

If your income for this tax year (6 April 2010 to 5 April 2011) is likely to be lower than last tax year’s, type in an estimate of this year’s income instead into the calculator.
When you make your actual claim, you must enter last year’s income on the form. This is because 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 straightaway if your income goes down. They will use this new figure to re-work your tax credits

If you pay childcare costs

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:

going to the guide ‘Childcare costs - how to work them out to claim tax credits’
calling the Tax Credit Helpline

Childcare costs – how to work them out to claim tax credits

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Your results

This calculator will give you an idea of how much you should be entitled to, based on the information you give.

The figure you see will be the amount you could get between today's date and 5 April 2011. Although you will see your result as a lump sum, this will normally be paid in instalments every four weeks.

Your results will also say that you can order a claim form by calling the ‘helpdesk’. You can only get your claim form from 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.

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Go to the questionnaire