Working Tax Credit (WTC)

The Working Tax Credit (WTC) is a tax credit for people who are working and on a low income. It is designed to help you with the cost of working, such as childcare costs or travel to work.

The amount of WTC you get depends on your income, your circumstances and the number of children you have. You can get WTC if you are:

• employed
• self-employed
• working in a jobseeker's allowance work placement
• working in a government-backed training programme

You cannot get WTC if you are:

• a student
• claiming jobseeker's allowance
• claiming universal credit
• receiving a pension credit

To claim WTC, you must:

• be 16 or over
• be working at least 16 hours a week
• have a National Insurance number
• be a resident of the UK

You can claim WTC online, by phone or by post.

If you are eligible for WTC, you will get it paid every 4 weeks. The amount of WTC you get will be shown on your payslip or your tax credit statement.

If you have any questions about WTC, you can contact the HMRC helpline on 0300 200 3300.

Here are some additional details about WTC:

• The maximum amount of WTC you can get is £2,788 per year.
• The amount of WTC you get is reduced if you have savings of more than £6,000.
• You can get extra WTC if you have children. The amount of extra WTC you get depends on the number of children you have and their ages.
• If you are claiming WTC, you may also be eligible for other benefits, such as child tax credit or housing benefit.

If you are not sure if you are eligible for WTC, you can use the HMRC's online benefits calculator.