Help with my TC Compliance check

athensgeorgia

At the moment we are undergoing a tax credit compliance check. We keep getting letters for certain info and as i couldn't provide receipts for our childcare the Tcco said she would write to our ex-childminder for the info. It now turns out she hasn't replied and i need to provide proof of how much we paid her. I did explain i came to the figure stated by looking at past cheque stubs and guestimated the rest and the tcco is saying 'I' need to get a written statement off my childminder or provide the cleared cheques but at £5 a cheque i really can't afford to, and my childminder has split with her partner and moved house and doesn't answer her phone so i can'tfind her. Can anyone give me any advice on what to do?

Also our tcco has moved offices and on this reply envelope its not postage paid i know its only a small thing but as all the letters we've sent (7-8) have been postage paid should i just send the info with a stamp on or post it and let the Post Office charge the tax office iyswim we're really struggling financially tbh and i'd rather not have to waste a stamp if i don't have to.

Any advice must appreciated.

DaisyFlower

Did you not have any receipts from her or even the invoices to tie in with the amounts on the cheque book?

If not, then you'll have to prove the cheque were cashed by her by going down the bank route.

You can see why they are asking, you have nothing to prove that you used the money on childcare or that you actually had to pay childcare costs. Doesnt help that you actually dont know where your childminder is at the moment! Assume you now have a new one to actually have an address to take the children to.

athensgeorgia

DaisyFlower wrote: »

Did you not have any receipts from her or even the invoices to tie in with the amounts on the cheque book?

If not, then you'll have to prove the cheque were cashed by her by going down the bank route.

You can see why they are asking, you have nothing to prove that you used the money on childcare or that you actually had to pay childcare costs. Doesnt help that you actually dont know where your childminder is at the moment! Assume you now have a new one to actually have an address to take the children to.

I've actually changed my hours at work so don't use childcare at the moment, but no i didn't get receipts as i trusted the cheques would clear and didn't expect her to query i had a paid.

Oldernotwiser

athensgeorgia wrote: »

I've actually changed my hours at work so don't use childcare at the moment, but no i didn't get receipts as i trusted the cheques would clear and didn't expect her to query i had a paid.

But what about her invoices? Can't you use them?

athensgeorgia

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

But what about her invoices? Can't you use them?

I didn't get invoices. I've had a few childminders and never had invoices, she used to just tell me what the balance was at the end of the week. I'd have an idea in my head about how many hours it was and just get the final figure off her. I think i'm gonna go to her old house and see if her ex knows how to get in touch with her unless i see her around (we live in a smallish area).