Tax credits Appeal as HMRC doubled my income!

mbailey

I wonder if anyone can help.

I received my final notice for 2009/2010 tax credits in August and to my shock and horror HMRC said my salary had doubled and therefore were due no money, and were in fact overpaid, so they would claim the money back from the 2010/2011 tax year.

On inspection of the form I could see that the "other income" field had the total salary in it, so when added together with my actual salary is showed my salary as twice as large!

I contacted HMRC on August and the guy I spoke to said it looks like an obvious error and they would fix it, but it would take 6 weeks. 8 week later, nothing happened so I called them again. They said my appeal had got lost, so they would resubmit it again.

Today I receive a letter saying my appeal is rejected and they say "it is against the law for them to change it now".

I have just spoken to them again and they don't think they can do anything about it!!!

This is absolutely crazy.

How do I get them to understand that this is a simple clerical error?

If my salary was double then I wouldn't need the tax credits money, but as it is we rely on the money for our family now.

Any suggestions please?

[Deleted User]

Did you complete the form by post?

My guess is that you did and you put your income in the correct box and then tried to put a total at the bottom (in the other income box) without reading it properly. This would show it to be your own fault and you are highly unlikely to win any appeal. It's not impossible to win but you should be prepared for the likely outcome of any further appeal to be successful.

bloaty

I thought you had to complete it by post?

My son contacted them by phone and gave all of his details, then they sent him a form to complete so not sure what your posting is saying?

[Deleted User]

bloaty wrote: »

I thought you had to complete it by post?

My son contacted them by phone and gave all of his details, then they sent him a form to complete so not sure what your posting is saying?

The initial claim form is completed by post but a renewal form can be completed by post or by phone.

It seems the OP is talking about a renewal, not a first time claim.

mbailey

subsoniccoyote wrote: »

Did you complete the form by post?

My guess is that you did and you put your income in the correct box and then tried to put a total at the bottom (in the other income box) without reading it properly. This would show it to be your own fault and you are highly unlikely to win any appeal. It's not impossible to win but you should be prepared for the likely outcome of any further appeal to be successful.

I tried to give HMRC the data by telephone but after 2 weeks of trying I could never get through to HMRC so in the gave up with the telephone and filled the form in and posted it.

I suspect you might be right in that I added the income up thinking it was a total field.

I could understand if the "other income" was a different amount, but the fact it is exactly the same of our total income surely it is obvious that it was a mistake?

If I sent the HMRC my P60 and my wifes P60, is this not valid proof of my income?

Ignite

If you don't get anywhere with HMRC, contact your local MP as it seems that in some cases, things start moving with a letter from the MP.

mbailey

Finally heard today that my appeal with HMRC has been accepted and they agree my salary hasn't doubled!

I can't believe it has taken 6 months, and I dread to think how many people have been involved and how much money it has cost.

no-oneknowsme

mbailey wrote: »

Finally heard today that my appeal with HMRC has been accepted and they agree my salary hasn't doubled!

I can't believe it has taken 6 months, and I dread to think how many people have been involved and how much money it has cost.

At least the end result was a good one !:T