Tax credit office ignores changes....

bikeman

Contacting the tax credit office has always been difficult by phone. Now it seems that writing to them or completing changes via their website also doesn't work.

As a contractor I frequently change jobs and I'm obliged to notify HMRC within 30 days of my new employer (usually an umbrella company) and re-forecast my annual income.

I've tried notifying them by phone (can't get through), online (ignored) and post (ignored).

I'm fed up with having to keep detailed records of my contact attempts and having the hassle of being over paid tax credits when I'm working and then being forced to find money to repay it when I'm not working.

And then they have the affront to penalise me for not advising them of changes.

The system is a mess.

tomtom256

We used the online system, told us would take about 4 - 8 weeks for the update to be actioned and the update has now been done.

Not sure if the timescale is the problem?

poppy12345

bikeman wrote: »

Contacting the tax credit office has always been difficult by phone. Now it seems that writing to them or completing changes via their website also doesn't work.

As a contractor I frequently change jobs and I'm obliged to notify HMRC within 30 days of my new employer (usually an umbrella company) and re-forecast my annual income.

I've tried notifying them by phone (can't get through), online (ignored) and post (ignored).

I'm fed up with having to keep detailed records of my contact attempts and having the hassle of being over paid tax credits when I'm working and then being forced to find money to repay it when I'm not working.

And then they have the affront to penalise me for not advising them of changes.

The system is a mess.

I must admit i've never had a problem ringing them. I had to ring them a few weeks ago infact and got through within 5 mins.

trishandbubs

It's been the peak renewal time for tax credits so call waiting times have been high. Normally calls are answered within 5 minutes at present.

If the changes are done correctly on lone they won't be ignored it could be that your still within the 28 day run on period from ending your previous employment so it won't update straight away.

With you being a contractor is this self employed? If it is then you just need to advise HMRC of this your UTR number and average hours worked. If its a contractor through an agency then again you just tell them it's through an agency with average weekly working hours so again don't need to keep updating.

Unfortunately if you are wanting tax credits then you need to ensure that you are updating HMRC the overpayments only really happen if your under estimating your income for the year OR not updating throughout the year OR your not meeting the criteria for tax credits.

sheramber

if you know you are getting payments you are no longer due then put them away in a separate bank account and you will have the money to repay them, if necessary.