Subtracting pension contributions for tax credits renewal- which ones can you subtract.

[starpatch]

Hi I recently did a tax credits calculation on the turn 2 us website because I am wondering whether to stop my SIPP pension contributions so I have more money for house repairs. Anyway my query is about my contributions to occupational pension that show on my payslip. Up until now I haven't been subtracting these when giving my figures for tax credits because the DWP advisor seemed to say I couldn't. But when I did the turn 2 us calculation they asked for the occupational pension figure, and their predictions for how much tax credits I would get on effectively a higher wage were much higher than I expected. So I was wondering whether I am wrong not to subtract the occupational pension contribution.
Also is there another benefits calculator I should check? Thanks

DWP often conveniently don't know you can take off pension contributions.

I don't remember all the details but I can take off my private pension contributions (& gross up the amount) and my husband can take off his occupational pension contributions (& gross up the amount). I think it varies depending how pension is done at work but I found it complicated to work out as they don't provide much guidance.

Thanks Earlydoors

It depends whether the pension contributions are taken out of pre or post tax income.

If taken out of pre tax (gross) income then the tax relief is given at source.
If taken out of post tax income then the tax relief is claimed by the scheme administrator and added to the contribution.

For tax credit purposes compare your P60 to your month 12 payslip.

Is the P60 figure the gross taxable amount per your payslip with pension contributions then deducted from that? In which case the pension contributions (grossed up,
not what you've paid) should be deducted from P60 figure for tax credit income.

Or is the P60 amount the gross, less the pension contributions, in which case they are already deducted in arriving at the P60 figure, and that's what you use for tax credits with no further adjustment.