Another tax credit dispute. Fuming

doomandgloom

First of all I apologise - I am extremely peeved.

Secondly I need some help please.

If I successfully prove that an overpayment is incorrect will I get any backdated claim?

My situation is I already have one dispute with HMRC for 14-15 income. Already posted about this and received advice. 7 weeks in and I'm still waiting for a decision.
However as part of that issue HMRC reduced my claim quite drastically (to me).

I rang last week to advise of increase in hours and an anticipated increase in income. Was just over the 2500 disregard so I declared it. In advance. Like I always do. (and always needed to due to never having straight forward circumstances and fixed income every year).

I have looked online today and HMRC have reduced my award even more. I rang again to be told I was overpaid for 15-16. They held my maternity income from the previous year but I have earned substantially more.

I rang last tax year to advise of a change of employment and an anticipated increase in income and gave them a figure not far off from what I've actually earned this year (I estimated 300 more than what I actually earned).

So I have a phone call from last year that should be recorded and their award notice with the figure I estimated dated may 2015. So I know I can prove I am right and they are wrong.

Until all of this gets sorted out though I'm financially up the Creek. They don't care and won't speed up the dispute.

When I prove I'm right will they backdate or just write it off?

Is there a way to fast track the dispute? (I was told there wasn't but I really am sinking here). And how is it they can get it so completely wrong?

Sorry for the rambles and thanks in advance.

Darksparkle

Did you get a new award notice when you reported the change to 2015/16?

For a dispute they look at responsibilities if both sides. So one thing they would consider is if you got the award and reported any errors or if you didn't get the award, did you do anything to check this.

Disputes normally have estimated timescales, have you asked what this currently is?

doomandgloom

Hi Darksparkle

I declared it towards the end of April 15. They sent me an award notice and it had my estimated income on so there was nothing to correct at the time.

It's because I received an additional payment on Friday that I checked online when my next payment was due and how much. Today is when I've found out my payments are massively reduced.

When I rang up the reason I was given was I was overpaid by over 2000 due to my income changing. They had my 14-15 income logged as my 15-16 but none of my award notices received over the last year shows that.


Does that make sense?

And my other dispute is currently 6 weeks in. If I ask for an update all I get is "it's being looked at".

Darksparkle

Can you tell me the figures for both years? And your circumstances?

Did your payments change after you reported the income?

doomandgloom

Ok bear with me...adding a little bit of background in case it helps.

First ever claim made for TC was Jan 14 after my son was born. HMRC wanted my prev years income, which was £30000 but I lost that job in April 13 so when I claimed in Jan 14 I declared the £30000 income and enclosed a letter (with proof - wage slips etc) that my income for 13-14 was £13000 with my new job.

May/ June 14 receive tax credits renewal and they have income down as £15000 for 13-14 and wanted this for the 14-15 income. I rang up explained I was on SMP and told to only declare anything after first £100 per week. After calculations this was around £5000 but that this may change when I went back to work later in the year.

Oct 14 I went back to work and informed HMRC again as I expected income to change. Estimated income overall for 14-15 to be around £14000 but adjusted to £10000 due to SMP disregard.

Nov 14 investigated for income declaration. Submitted full paperwork etc and no further action taken.

Mar 15 change of job and income. Rang HMRC toward end of April 15 to advise that expect to earn around £20000 for 15-16. This is reflected on new award notice (and subsequent ones when childcare costs slightly changed).

Rang up again last week to advise of the same for 16-17 but expected to earn £23000.

Yes payments changed - I believe they went down in May 15 as a result of the income change and I didn't need to claim for as much childcare.


Hope that helps?

doomandgloom

Can anybody help with this?