HELP pls!! Tax Credits Renewal from 5 yrs ago

ChelleBelle

I wonder if anyone can help me. I have had a renewal pack through the post for 2005-2006. I have always sent my renewal packs back on time and this year was no exception. They have sent me a renewal pack and this did not have my childcare costs on it, and the letter stated that if anything was wrong I was to contact tax credits to correct. the only number supplied was the generic one on the top of the page. SO I called them.... and no surprise the person I spoke to cant help me because her system does not allow her to go back that far to update the claim. She said it may have been issued due to an error thats only just been fixed - but as i said to her errors don't take 5 yrs to fix!! I also stated that if this is in fact an error then its their error as I definitely sent back my renewal form as i do every year.
I amj just concerned having seen things like this before on Watchdog that the tax credits system has screwed up and they are going to try and demand money from me.

Has anyone else received a letter from so far back?? If so what did you do?? The advice from the tax credits office was to phone the tax helpline and ask for my earnings between certain dates, then ask them to put it in writing, then send it to them who will then be able to add it onto my claim. I just dont get it. Why wait 5 yrs and expect me to remember exact figures of salary, childcare etc.

ANY help at all would be great - thanks xxx

System

If you haven't kept your P60's and p45's the recommended 6 years then if you are going to complete the form you need to call the taxes helpline and ask them to send a letter confirming your income between 6th April 2005 and 5th April 2006.

Regarding the childcare not being on the form then the question is did you pay for childcare between those dates? if not then they wouldn't have been included on the renewal form.

If you are concerned about an error then write in and make a Subject Access Request asking specifically for copies of all correspondence, application forms and renewal forms between you and TCO. You can also ask for a copy of all telephone calls made too.

ChelleBelle

Really i didnt know that. Thank you. yes I was paying childcare as I was in employment and my son was in childcare and all ofsted and registration numbers plus costs were given to the TCO. Its annoyed me somewhat as i always phone straight away with every single change and now this. I wasnt aware you was supposed to keep P60s and P45s for such a long time, I dont think I have.

Thanks for the advice though x