how can I persuade my employer to pay Working Tax Credit?

When employers complain about Working Tax Credit (WTC) being a 'burden on business', employees may wish to remind them of the WTC arrangements. Workers who suspect that their employer is looking for excuses to justify not paying WTC may find that the grumbles stop if they make it plain they know that:

• Employers do not pay the WTC out of their own pockets.
• The arrangements for administering WTC are far from burdensome – in fact, they have been designed to be as easy as possible.
• Workers only need to claim WTC when their earnings are low.
• This means that if WTC were not available the employer would find it harder to fill vacancies.

In some cases, all it may take to persuade an employer to see reason is a call to the Tax Credit Helpline (0845 300 3900 voice, 0845 300 3909 textphone). If an employee – or her/his union rep – calls the Tax Credit Helpline to complain about non-payment of WTC, the Tax Credit Office will check whether the employer needs to have the procedures for paying WTC explained, or if advance funding is needed. In many cases this will be all that is needed to sort it all out.