tax cred overpayments+compulsory OT

fitzyafcb

My wife and I have claimed child tax credits for 2 years. After the first year we had been overpaid by £700 despite updating the tax office throughout the year. We were still entitled the following year and our monthly payments were reduced by around £100 in order to reclaim what we owed on the advice of the advisor over the phone. This I was told would reduce the overpayments to zero. Despite updating the tax office throughout the year we have now received overpayments totalling £1400!!!!

Due to the recent changes to qualifying salaries we are no longer entitled to child tax credits and have been told we must re-pay what we have been overpaid, which is understandable.

During the 2 years my employers have forced me to work 3 periods of contractual/compulsory overtime. (Basically an extra 9 days in every 12 weeks for each compulsory period) I have not wanted to work the extra days but under much pressure by my manager, and to prevent losing my job, I worked the days requested. In truth, I believe that it is not solely down to this contracted overtime that I have been overpaid but it must contribute to at least a half of the overtime that I have worked.

In hindsight, I know I should have either asked for the payments to stop in the second year or refused to work the OT but I didn't expect this to happen until it happened.

I've been very honest with the tax office but I feel incredibly misled by the system. Why hasn't anyone highlighted any issues to me beforehand and amended my payments? A benefit designed to help has now landed me in debt.

The reason for my post is basically hoping that someone can offer some guidance. Should my employers help with my repayments as it was them who forced me in to work?

Any help would be really appreciated.

Many thanks

[Deleted User]

no your employer wont help i`m sorry to say