which years income do we use for child tax credits?!

[toffeecrispandacupoftea]

Sorry if this is a really daft question but I have been googling this over and over and just can't get my head around it!

To claim this year (for the first time- hence not understanding it), do we use last years actual income or are we meant to estimate what our income will be for this year?

Thank you.

The tax year just gone, so 2014/15.

Thank you - I couldn't even figure it out from the HMRC website! I suppose they think it is so obvious no one will ask

Hmmm it depends - if you think your income will be similar to last years then yes, go by the year gone. But if you have had a change in circumstance you should declare based on your expected earnings for this year. My understanding, anyway.