Tax credit investigation...

Pennywise

Pam17 wrote:

The TCO works separately from that part of the Revenue which has your employment and income details and the everyday staff in TCO generally do not have access to your PAYE or Self Assessment records. I think the Compliance team do have access or at least liase with their colleagues who deal with your tax affairs.

I don't think that is true these days - it might have been when the TCO was first set up. I telephone through my renewal figures a couple of weeks ago and the CS guy who took my call knew a lot of information that could only have come from the PAYE/SA records - i.e. employer name, address and tax reference (TC forms don't ask for this). He also knew I was employed through my own limited company (again not on TC forms), and he knew what my "other income" was comprised of - not the breakdown of figures but he knew there was a mix of income, dividends and which companies the dividends were paid from - again none of this detail was on the TC forms. I suspect that they've finally got their computer systems talking to eachother. Either that or it was a fluke that my call was answered by a more senior CS assistant who did have access to the PAYE/SA systems.

ohreally

Thanks to all who have taken time to reply. One area which as not been addressed is my access to their evidence, would anyone care to comment on what will be available to me? I have nothing to hide however natural justice appears a long way off on the horizon if TCO have spent a period of time building a case against me and they fail to disclose what evidence they have.I would wish to test their evidence and for that, i need to be made aware of what their case is based on.

System

ohreally you need to put in what they call a "Subject access request" asking for all the information they hold on the system. You call also ask for a copy of all the recorded phonecalls you have had with them.

I think you can also request a face to face meeting too.

hollydays

RE previously claimed tax credits.This morning i received a letter to say IR had overpaid me about £500,and would be contacting me to collect it.10 minutes and three phone calls later i established i didnt owe them,they owed me £1400.Bliddy cheek!

donnalove

first thing that springs to mind is have you given them the gross income figures or nett.If it's the latter then this would flag up thousands diff as you are supposed to give gross figures

secondly i have 3 #'s for the access centre i will post the 1 i rang, in all honesty i'd ring rather than write for these as i was still waiting 4 months later and when i phoned i got them within 2 days.

kai norwich resources
data protection sar unit (it's in newcastle upon tyne)

0191 2257575

hope this helps
donnalove
xx

ohreally

Donna, thanks for that however i have little intention of calling,they can come to me and at a time which is convenient.After this gets brought to a satisfactory conclusion, i am tempted to submit a bill at day rate to cover my time and effort responding to them

donnalove

sorry i must have misread.
i thought you wanted to get information they hold on you.

ohreally

Sorry Donna we may have wires crossed. Yes i wish TCO to disclose their case evidence to me preferably prior to any meeting whci gets convened.

finmaieth

Hi

My tax credit is being investigated and it has really frightened me as I thought I had claimed it correctly. The difference between my figure and their figure is mine and my partner's personal pension contributions and my 26 weeks x £100 Maternity pay.

From their guidelines I thought we were supposed to deduct it from our gross income, was I supposed to leave it for them to do?

If I have given the incorrect figure, will they accept this as a genuine mistake? I am happy to pay back the overpayment (it won't be much) but I am frightened they will charge a penalty.

Thanks

finmaieth

I guess the reason everyone is reading and not replying to my post is because you're in the same boat???

I have had a letter from the IR THANKING me for agreeing to MY figure - what a cheek!

After stressing me out, they tell me I was right all along and are trying to make out it was their own calculation.

Will be sending a letter of complaint regarding the tone of their correspondance and laziness in not checking the figures for themselves - they have access to it so why involve me???