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A demand for repayment - 3 YEARS AGO!

Gailymac
Posts: 12 Forumite

I have just received a Debt Collectors letter on behalf of HMRC for Child Tax Credit that they say they overpaid me over 3 years ago for £1800!! I am now getting unpleasant phone calls to collect this money. I have asked HMRC for a Statement of how the sum is made up and an explanation as to why I am getting this 3 years after all payments stopped!! It is the first correspondence I have received from them or HMRC. Feels totally unfair that I hear nothing for 3 years, then unpleasant communication demanding the money??!! I dont have this money, and have no way of understanding if it is even due to them.
Isnt there a time limit by which they should flag up any overpayments they've made to me? (assuming they are right) I do my Tax Return every year and nothing has ever been raised about this. H E L P
Isnt there a time limit by which they should flag up any overpayments they've made to me? (assuming they are right) I do my Tax Return every year and nothing has ever been raised about this. H E L P

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Comments
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There is no time limit, no statute of limitations on government debt. Met someone who was having deductions from benefits 22 years after he was alleged to have falsely claimed something. They'll get it, even if they have to take it off your state pension.
Had you perhaps moved and not informed some dept of government or not arranged for your mail to be forwarded?
Suggest you 'phone StepChange, the debt charity, good people...
https://www.stepchange.org/Contactus.aspx0 -
After 6 years they can't take court action against you. However they wouldn't need to as they have other ways of pursuing the debt.
Your tax return wouldn't flag up a tax credit overpayment.
Do you have your final awards notice for the tax year in question?0 -
As above we have seen stories of DWP trying to recoup overpayments from 20 years ago, best to come to an arrangement to pay NOW than have it drag on for years.0
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You're right to request a breakdown of the supposed overpayment. There have been instances where assumptions have been made but there is no solid evidence to support the claim by HMRC.0
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You need to know the reason HMRC think you have been overpaid. Often this relates to marriages or partnerships that form, break up or reform or because you are linked to an ex=partner.0
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