[thejoz]

We are considering going out on a working visa (already have a job offer) and then starting the immigration process (assuming the job offer stands, they thought we would get PR first:eek:)
BUT - Can we claim Family Tax Credits!!!!????:uhoh

It would seem to me to be thoroughly unfair if we can't! After all we'd be paying into the tax system!

[thejoz]

I've just checked this site: http://www.ird.govt.nz/

You DO get it as a non-resident so long as you have an IRD number, pphheeww!;)

[missy+mrmagoo]

No I don't think you can on a working visa. This is from that link under eligibility criteria:

If you and your children are in New Zealand unlawfully or hold only a temporary permit or visa, you are not a New Zealand resident for Working for Families Tax Credits purposes.

You got us excited then!

[dharder]

No I don't think you can on a working visa.

I've been giving conflicting information from them, though, as on their website, it states that you have to have been an NZ resident for at least 12 months. Lots of people here on the board seem to have received it earlier though.

They also told me on the phone that I couldn't claim, since I just got here, but my partner could, being an NZ citizen. Nowhere on their site have I found citizenship as a criterion (residency yes, but not citizenship), so I was a tad confused. A second phone call seemed to clear it up, though, and we are now receiving it.

Maybe worth giving them a call (or even two calls, just to check if they say the same thing...) to be sure.

Good luck,

Daniela

[stephenandjulie]

We applied soon after arriving here and they starting paying straight away. We have permanent residency. I 've always understood that you can only apply if you have PR.

Julie

[mgbridges]

We've got PR but I haven't applied as I'm assuming your household has to be earning under a certain amount to qualify am I wrong? Is it like Child Benefit in the UK in that you get it purely because you've got a kid?

Anneliese

[shakyle2906]

I recall ringing up when we got here last April on work visas, we were told not eligible!

I started work late May, we got residency shortly after, and we were told qhwn i rang up agian, that we had to be earning under $70k to be eligible and have PR to be eligible.

Dont know whether things have changes but guess worth a call or an email ?

good luck

Sharon

[thejoz]

Damn! That would pretty much scr@w us then! Guess we'll have to go for PR first after all.

I think that it's totally unjustifiable, also I think it's odd for the system to benefit people who get PR before living in NZ as oppose to people that live and work there already!?Avaguardiam - Ridiculousness!

I'll check with them by phone and writing, though given our experiences in the UK you really can't trust these people to give you the TRUE answer, I think half their job is to put people off by confusing them or giving misinformation. It certainly looked to me that non residents COULD claim but maybe you are right and they can't.

Here's the actual page: (Non residents & visitors!) http://www.ird.govt.nz/yoursituation-nonres/move-nz/

I love to clear this up and find out that non PR people can claim, not just for ourselves, sounds as though there could be a lot of backdated claims about to be requested!

[thejoz]

Ok, I've just looked at that some more, I now think you are right and non residents can't claim, sorry to get you all going. Double d@mn! :mad:

[thejoz]

Maybe you get it if considered a "Tax Resident"!?

Here's the page: http://www.ird.govt.nz/yoursituation-nonres/tax-residency/#031

In my experience in the UK when the benefit agencies word things ambigously and dont just say for instance "You can only claim Family Tax Credits if you have permanent residency. Being considered a Tax Resident does not suffice!" It's usually because people CAN claim, they just don't want to advertise the fact!

Maybe I'm just clinging onto hope. If we can't get it we'll probably come straight out anyway, rent the cheapest place in town, work twice as hard and be a still be broke.

Hmmm, sounds like being in the UK but with a bit of sunshine thrown in, cool bring it on!!!

[thejoz]

UPDATE: Oops sorry, just found this eligability criteria.

http://www.ird.govt.nz/wff-tax-credits/entitlement/who-qualifies/eligibility/

It does clearly state:

You must meet at least one of the following residency requirements:

You are both a New Zealand resident and a New Zealand tax resident and have been in New Zealand continuously for at least 12 months at any time.
or
You are caring for a child who is both present and resident in New Zealand.

[Familyofmonkeys]

I'm assuming your household has to be earning under a certain amount to qualify

That's right.....we don't qualify :wah

Seems unfair if only one parent is working though as we are worse off than two people each earning half OH salary would be :(

[marybelle]

We looked into tax credits and you have to have a FAMILY income off less than $86,000 to claim anything.( this may differ depending on the size of your family?)

This link has a calculator that we used to get an idea..

http://www.ird.govt.nz/familyassistance/

Hth

Marybelle

[dharder]

this may differ depending on the size of your family?

Yes, it depends on the number of children you have. The limit for us (we have four) is higher.

Daniela