Overpaid Tax Credit Award

Debbie_Hobdell

Are you obliged to let IR know every time your income changes?

For instance, my pay varies depending on how many extra meetings etc I go in for that my manager decides to pay me for instead of taking time owing.

From all that's been posted here it sounds as if it would be easier to notify them towards the end of the tax year, rather than every time you get extra pay.

Or would they consider that you've been withloding information & therefore try to say that you've been claiming fraudulently?!

Fran

You are obliged to let them know if your income increases or decreases by £2,500 per year. It's in your interest anyway - they should do a re-assessment in that situation, if it's less it will get left until the end of the year. Unless your extra money is this amount you can leave it until the end of the year, but bear in mind any extra you have had during that time. (Perhaps put some in a special account or something to cover yourself?)

mutley74

reading through this thread, i am 'glad' to see that i am not the only one now who has been 'overpaid' tax credit.

I filled out all the tax credit form last year, then sent some additional info (on IR request ) about my working arrangements, and we were awarded overe £3k. Now we have a letter saying we were overpaid £2800! rang them and the guy said, basically the IR will get that back from me over the next few years and may even have to change our tax codes (dont liek that idea). I demended an appeals pack thro the post. Dont mid paying some back, as we earned more than we thought (only just) but they knew our estimated income details pretty well i would say last year, so only expected a few hundered quid to be paid back if anything.

anyone else got any recent updates /info to share? is it worth speaking to the CAB and an local MP. last time i went to the CAB, the waiting queue was at least 40 mins, and they are only open limited hours during the week. I work mon-fri 9-5 (like most) so would have to take a day off to speak to CAB, thus a lost days income to.

Fran

Chipz -

I would go to the CAB if at all possible plus contact your MP. I know the initial waiting times are a problem due to CAB understaffing (lack of funding) and it's always going to be pot luck depending on adviser numbers at your local bureau and the complexity of other people's questions before you. In the bureaux I have worked, the only time you may have to wait is on your first visit as subsequent visits would be by appointment. I would suggest getting there a quarter of an hour before they open, that way you have a good chance of being seen fairly quickly. The "Social Policy" work that the CAB do is as important as the advising etc., and they collate information (for example the overpaid tax credits question) which they use to try to affect future legislation etc. locally and nationally. More info on their social policy work can be seen at their website:- Citizens Advice (this is not the "adviceguide" website). You say "we" have a letter - can your partner get to the CAB?

The CAB can also check that you are getting the correct amount of tax credit (and anything else that this might affect).

I would think that the more MP's working on the tax credits issue the better.

mutley74

Fran, thanks for the advie. But does anyone have any success/or feedback from using the CAB/local MP route for appealing for such a large repayment?

System

What a relief to know you are not alone.

I might be on the wrong board but need a rant too and this is an active thread so.......

My award was fine until the review when some joker deleted my child care - £500pcm.
Ten weeks later and ten weekly phone calls later i was still none the wiser having had different versions from each advisor i spoke to.

I asked for a complaints form which amazingly arrived after 2 days and, folowwing the procedure, rang to speak to the Complaints Manager. Guess wahat?
"I'm afraid there's no-one available to take your call" Unbelievable.

This week I received 5 award notices. None of which are totally right.
My payments ahve been reinstated but the back pay of £1200 (which is now my overdraft) will be apportioned over the year!
This leaves me with the debt and IR with the interest

Its just great isnt it.
I will be going to my MP and having read these posts would urge everyone to do the same.
The system is shameful

mutley74

just got our appeals pack today in the post. It sgoing to be a tough turnaround to get that back to them in 30 days. I think the 30 day time limit is not fair, as say if you are away on holiday one may lose som eo fthis time before they can action or appeal against a tax award.

shoul i wait before filling in the form to contact the local CAB and MP?
Paying back this award is not going to make on the breadline is very annoying that they made such a c*ckup and paid us all thi smoney if they knew were getting overpaid. Or should i return the form and tell them i taking further assistance?


what a shambles this system , i wonder what other suprises brown and blair have for us in the future (apart from limiting our ISA allowances).

mutley74

not tried it but found it on websearch

http://www.faxyourmp.com/

could help when contacting your MP.

Fran

shoul i wait before filling in the form to contact the local CAB and MP?

CAB could give you advice on filling in the form. I would contact CAB & MP first to see what they have to say about the current situation. (I would be interested in what they say if you would let us know.)

janiewai

I appealed 8 weeks ago with the help of my MP and so far heard nothing!

I dont hold out hope as one person at the IR said no-one will win appeals :-(