Child Tax Credits - Huge Bill!

klr75

Hi - I have been contesting a massive bill from HMRC. They say I never sent paperwork proving childcare costs whilst I was in my first year of teacher training. I did, sent everything to them by the deadline and assumed it was all fine because they paid the credit and then applied the next year same way. Had a bill saying I owed over £1200 and now this has somehow increased to over £3200. I have tried phoning NUMEROUS times, can never get through to anyone or just have conversations with people who say ;you owe it so you have to pay it'. They have such a 'computer says no' attitude, its driving me mad I just can't get ANYWHERE. They are essentially accusing me of lying - I work full time, I pay all my taxes. I have never claimed benefits (despite being the social pariah AKA single parent). I send them letters sayig I don't owe it, with copies of the paperwork, they write back saying I didn;t follow up within 3 mnths, so its tough! I'm considering writing back to say they didn;t follow up in three months either, so its tough on them. I just don't know who to contact what to do? Forums just seem to say tough - pay up too. I DON'T owe it, I;m not paying it, They have messed up but I don't know how to prove it??? Can anyone help pls?

Icequeen99

klr75 wrote: »

Hi - I have been contesting a massive bill from HMRC. They say I never sent paperwork proving childcare costs whilst I was in my first year of teacher training. I did, sent everything to them by the deadline and assumed it was all fine because they paid the credit and then applied the next year same way. Had a bill saying I owed over £1200 and now this has somehow increased to over £3200. I have tried phoning NUMEROUS times, can never get through to anyone or just have conversations with people who say ;you owe it so you have to pay it'. They have such a 'computer says no' attitude, its driving me mad I just can't get ANYWHERE. They are essentially accusing me of lying - I work full time, I pay all my taxes. I have never claimed benefits (despite being the social pariah AKA single parent). I send them letters sayig I don't owe it, with copies of the paperwork, they write back saying I didn;t follow up within 3 mnths, so its tough! I'm considering writing back to say they didn;t follow up in three months either, so its tough on them. I just don't know who to contact what to do? Forums just seem to say tough - pay up too. I DON'T owe it, I;m not paying it, They have messed up but I don't know how to prove it??? Can anyone help pls?

I would forget all of that for now. What you need to do is find the finalised award notices that have removed the childcare and lodge appeals (not disputes - make sure to use form WTC/AP) to have the childcare reinstated.

Then once that is done, you should complain about how they have handled it.

The main thing is you sort the appeal out and make sure it is within the time limits.

IQ

Mensch

When I did my teacher training I would never have been able to work an extra 16 hours per week to qualify for Child Care costs; I was just knackered every night. If that's what you did, go for it!


The system was designed to help people like you after all. Get your MP involved though. If you've gone over the 90 days you'll get nowhere, so you'll need his or her help.