Tax credits overpayment

Mumstheword

Hi!

Can anyone point me in the right direction for help please.

I've been notified of a small overpayment (but still significant to me!) in tax credits from 05/06.

It's thought to be due to a wage rise in that year.

1- should there be a 25k allowance for wage rises? It's something I've seen discussed but dont understand fully

2 - I did inform them at the time. I even asked them to estimate our new household income higher than it was. I was self employed so was worried about possible overpayment if my estimate was too low!

3 - I have a form they sent me at the time to show they were paying based on my overestimated earnings. The figure they now tell me they paid on is lower than that estimate I gave. (However, it's higher than the income we started that year on, so I wonder if they sent that notification stating my overestimated figures, but then actually paid based on the original lower figure - hence an overpayment.)

It is now in 'dispute' and I have the form to complete and return. I havent had a proper look at that yet.

i wonder if there's any threads on here giving advice on the best way to complete a dispute form, or whether there's a certain way to go about it or pitfalls to avoid. I've had a look but nothing jumps out. If anyone remembers seeing anything which may be able to help, please let me know,

Thanks in advance!

Aarons_mummy

We are in a dispute at the moment, if you are sure you gave them the right information then you would have to call them, they give you the dates and times of your calls and you have to get transcripts for them although I don't know if they would have them from 05/06, is there any reason why you are only being asked for this overpayment now? It's been 5 years surely there is a time limit on when you have to pay it back.

Not much help sorry but hopefully someone else will have an answer for you!

Mumstheword

Thanks AM, hope your dispute is looked at fairly and resolved.

I've spoken to them and put this into dispute, altho at the time I didnt realise I had notes of dates and people I spoke to, and also evidence that I could reasonably assume everything was correct.

I dont know why they're looking at 05/06 now. It's the first I've heard from them, altho they do say they wrote before, recently. I suspect they could have 6 years to claim back, I think 6 years is a time scale used by the tax office?? Not sure lol! However, I do wonder if they're checking files now that could soon be 6 yrs old. I think it's unreasonable to be raising this issue now, when they havent mentioned it in all this time tho.

Aarons_mummy

I suppose, I hope you manage to get everything sorted out soon best thing to do is comply with them as much as possible although I personally have found it makes no difference what so ever!

From now on make sure to keep all communication, note down dates of calls etc so you have a record, might not be much use but it proved to be extremely useful for our claim. Ours has been going on close to a year now so you may be in for a long ride but hopefully it'll be sorted out quickly, good luck!

LindaJane47

I have had (and won) several disputes with them over the years, but found that the 'dispute' was never resolved without my making an appeal.

Fill inthe form asap and send it in, but also, start to get all the information you can (info, dates, if you called or wrtoe etc etc) together in one document.

When you've sent the form in, you will get an acknowledgement letter that says when they will ahve dealt with it by. If this date comes and goes.... ring them up and tell them you wnat to appeal.

The reason I suggest htis is that I once disputed an overpayment, never heard back, only to get a demand for payment (of the disputed overpayment) over 3 years later! I won that one on appeal. I learned from my mistake and the second, third and fourth times they reckoned I had been overpaid I appealed at the same time as sending in the overpayment dispute form. They really are pretty hopeless sometimes so I am not surprised at the delay. Keep a record of EVERYTHING, estimates if need be, but keep a record of everything from now on.

Good luck:)
Linda X