Tax back on unpaid maternity leave

Holyjebus

Hi
I was paid in full for my 26 weeks maternity leave, my Employer topped up my Social Welfare pay.
However, I took 16 weeks unpaid maternity leave after that so I thought I might have been due my tax credits back from this period but my P21 states I'm not owed anything.
Maternity leave was Jan - Sep 12 and unpaid was Sep to Jan 13.
Thanks

Alan Shore

Without knowing your monthly wage its hard to comment, but maternity benefit was not taxable so that element of your weekly pay is out. Then the balance is taxed but at a much lower rate so that you end up paying no tax or very little tax. Any tax paid may been refunded during the period of unpaid leave and form part of the cost that the employer incurred paying your wages while on leave.

allthedoyles

To claim tax credits , you must have tax paid .

Your post above suggests that you did not have enough tax paid to claim your full tax credits .

If so its possible that your paye tax credit may have been reduced on your P21 , in order to balance your earnings against your tax liability.