Tax credits- keeping claim open

[user87382294757]

DH is self employed, we usually get some tax credits, his income is variable. It is CTC, paid to me. (I also get cont based ESA which is taten into account in the calculation, and PIP which gives us a premium with the tax credits)

This year it looks like he made more of a profit than usual and this might push us off TC altogether as they also include the ESA (around 6K per annum) in the figure. However, we are not sure what is will be next year.

I'm wondering if it would be OK to give an estimate to TC in order to keep the claim open- it seems the max is 28K for his profit and that would mean a small payment of around £10 a month- just in case we need to reclaim next year and therefore avoid the claim being closed completely.

If there was any query it would be Ok as just would have a small overpayment of this £10 a month. I want to take care as it would be me paying it back as the CTC comes into my account.

Any thoughts welcome. He is still finalising his tax return at the moment. I have provisionally put in an estimate at last years values for now but we have till 31st July to finalise the figures with them. Many thanks

Oh, it seems it is Ok he says it is 20K at the most so will be Ok I think (checked not he calculator online)

Tax credits calculator

Results

You may be able to get the following tax credits.

This is based on the details you have entered, and could change if your circumstances change.

You could get

Child Tax Credit

£325.64 every four weeks towards your household costs
Childcare element

£0.00 every four weeks towards your childcare costs
Working Tax Credit

£0.00 every four weeks towards your household costs
£325.64 in total

How you qualify
This is based on your household income of £26,000.00

This year it looks like he made more of a profit than usual and this might push us off TC altogether as they also include the ESA (around 6K per annum) in the figure. However, we are not sure what is will be next year.

I'm wondering if it would be OK to give an estimate to TC in order to keep the claim open- it seems the max is 28K for his profit and that would mean a small payment of around £10 a month- just in case we need to reclaim next year and therefore avoid the claim being closed completely.

Im not sure what you are asking tbh.

Is this about your renewal, due the end of this month?

Why do you think you can estimate something to keep a small payment? Surely you either qualify or you don't? Or are you suggesting giving and untrue estimation? Or is this estimation for the year 19/20 genuine? In which case why are you asking?

I don't want us going off TC and having to make a new claim for UC.. Sorry I thought that was obvious from the post.

With self employment you can give an estimate and then you give them the final figures later in the year. It's fine / normal, it just means if it is higher then you might get an overpayment, so want to avoid that.

So you are talking about an estimate for 19/20? Which is perfectly normal?

Never mind- I think it is resolved now. I will check with the tax credits chat if I need any more help.

They don't automatically close the claim if it goes down to 0- you can keep it open (we are both self employed and get 0-not much normally, but a bit more if I'm on mat leave, or have high child care for a bit. So we've bobbed down to 0 a few times, but usually come back up again within less than a year).
I think it's called something like a protective claim and lots of self employed people do it.

Yes that is what i'm talking about, thanks.