Tax credits How your tax credits award is worked out
Your income will affect the tax credits you receive
The amount of tax credits you receive is calculated by dividing each of the elements of child tax credit and working tax credit you are entitled to by the number of days in the tax year.
This figure is then rounded up to the nearest penny to give a daily rate. (Note: the tables show rates that have been calculated using annual amount and so will not exactly match awards.)
These daily rates are then multiplied by the number of days in the relevant period and added together to give your family's maximum award.
Tax credits example
So, if you were claiming for the full tax year from 6 April 2009 to 5 April 2010, you would be entitled to an award which is 365 x your daily rate (as there are 365 days during this tax year).
However, if you started claiming tax credits from, say, 31 July 2009, the number of days left until the end of the tax year would be 249.
Your award is then reduced depending on whether your income is over certain levels.
Eligible for child tax credit only
If your family is receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance you will automatically receive the full amount of child tax credit that you qualify for.
However, if you are not receiving these social security benefits, then you will be entitled to the full amount of child tax credit until your annual income reaches £16,190 (2010 figure).
Above the limit
If your income is above this, your child tax credit award will be reduced by 39p for every £1 of income over the threshold. So, for example, if you earned £20,000 your child tax credit award would be reduced by £1,485 (£20,000 - £16,190 x 39p).
The family element of child tax credit (including if relevant, the baby addition) is not reduced until your annual income is over £50,000 and entitlement to tax credits over and above the family element has been withdrawn.
Once this happens, that element will be reduced by £1 for every £15 of income over the second threshold (£50,000).
Eligible for working tax credit
If you receive working tax credit, whether on its own or in addition to child tax credit, and your annual household income is below £6,420 (2010 figure – no change from 2009), you will receive the maximum amount of all the elements you qualify for.
Above the limit
If your income is more than this the maximum amount is reduced by 39p for every pound of income over the threshold.
If you have income over £6,420, the maximum amount you receive will be reduced in the following order:
- Working tax credit, apart from any childcare element
- then the childcare element of working tax credit
- then the child elements of child tax credit, and finally
- the family element of child tax credit
The family element of child tax credit (including if relevant the baby addition) is not reduced until your annual income is over £50,000 and entitlement to tax credits over and above the family element has been withdrawn.
Once this happens, that element will be reduced by £1 for every £15 of income over the second threshold (£50,000).
All too complicated?
You would be forgiven for having a headache at this point. The truth is it's virtually impossible for people claiming tax credits to work out how much they are entitled to.
One way of working out how much tax credits you might be entitled to is to go onto HMRC's tax credits calculator.
Annoyingly, it doesn't tell you how the award is worked out, but does give you a total amount based on your income and family circumstances, if you were to make a claim on the day you complete the calculator.
However, the results from the calculator are based on the part of the year remaining and not a full year, so may be different to your award notice.