Stupid tax credit office vent

johnwallace

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[Deleted User]

Just to make you aware, you're not keeping money that belongs to MP's.

You are keeping money that belongs to the tax paying public.

You should call them to make sure it is correct - which is unlikely if you have not been providing TCO with the correct and relevant updates.

If the amount paid to you is found to be correct, spend away. But I don't find it acceptable to keep money that you are not legally entitled to.

[Deleted User]

If it is paid to you in error it is not yours.

System

johnwallace wrote: »

I never even asked for the tax credits I just returned the form signed and dated with no figures filled in and nothing changed as I did every year for the past 3 years.

I'm assuming you're a wind up merchant but I'll take the bait anyhow :rolleyes:

If you signed and dated the most recent form, which is probably an annual declaration form, and put no figures in it then you have declared that you had no household income in the last tax year. That could be the reason they put money in the account. That's fraud.

[Deleted User]

Souds about right Pam.

If you have had an 'auto renewal' as your income was above the threshold (meaning a £0 award) you would eventually be asked to complete a 'reply required renewal'.
This is normally after around 3 years of automatic renewals.

If you have signed and dated the form and not provided your income details, you will receive backdated tax credits for last year and a new award for this year.

In this scenario you have commited (possibly carelessly) fraud. If/when it is noticed you will be forced to return the money and dependant on the amount you may face prosecution for under-declaring your income for financial gain.

The limit for prosecutions can be as low as £4,000 - £5,000.

compoff

Trust me, tax credits will not prosecute you for this, just plead hardship, that's how most people wangle out of having to repay

[Deleted User]

Trust me, they are making a point of prosecuting right now for those who have commited fraud. Small errors and offences are not usually taken up as the claimant will repay the amount or it is not in the interest of the public purse chasing small amounts through the courts.

I have been seconded to the compliance section of TCO on two occasions and have a little bit of experience in this.


And compoff, do you find it acceptable to keep money that doesn't belong to you? Why should he "wangle out of it"?
He cannot just plead poverty as TCO can access his income and tax records.

LilacPixie

I have seem compliance enquiries opened for a few hundred quid. I have seen prosecutions for as little as £869.

To the OP I think you have been very very silly you were asked for figure on an official document and you chose to omit them, it wasn't and error you consiously chose to omit them.

mumps

When tax credits started they were paying me way to much, I kept phoning to tell them but they had made so many mistakes it was hard to get through to them. So eventually I got through the advice was "Open a high interest savings account and just wait till we get round to asking for it back."

[Deleted User]

Mumps, at least you made an effort to notify them.

alwoowar

JW,i see completely your reasons for feeling and acting the way you do,in your shoes i would feel exactly the same way. These government agencies act in a way that would be utterly condemned in a business organisation and the mistakes would lead to people being sacked left right and centre,deservedly so! Unfortunately for you,as the government they also seem to be able to correct their incompetent actions and trample all over the innocent victim of their mistakes. Maybe get in touch and bring it to their attention so they can investigate,you may find you are actually entitled and have yourself a nice brucie bonus,if not then at least you wont have the stress of this hanging over your head while you sit waiting for their demands to drop on the doormat one morning. Good luck!:cool: