Tax credit overpayment

decbel

Recently we received a letter from the tax credit compliance officer saying that we had been overpaid by nearly £600 and that we have 31 days to pay it or arrange instalments with threat of a possible fine or interest.

A couple of weeks later we received the renewal pack saying that we had been overpaid by £272.

The claim has been ended for a reason I don't wish to go into but we will be re-applying.

Now I'm obviously happy to accept the lower figure. On the phone to the tax credit call centre the agent stated that there was nothing on the system about a £600 bill.

We offered to pay the £272 but were told we can't do that until next April.

Its in front of me and not something you'll forget.

My worry is that I simply don't trust them-waiting game perhaps?

Any overpayment from previous years has been totally cleared.

Interested to know your thoughts. Thanks.

Darksparkle

Tax credits dont add fines or interest to overpayments so sounds like either another debt from HMRC (e.g. income tax) or a scam.

If the £272 is for this year then it wouldn't be confirmed until the year actually ends as you may have changes to report.

decbel

I have to say the letter from the compliance officer looks legit but the second officer in the call centre says nothing is on the system with the overpayment of nearly £600

The dates of the overpayment on the compliance letter and on the renewal letter are identical-the difference being one is asking for £600 with threats and the other is asking for £272.

We asked the second call centre operator for written confirmation of the contents of the conversation. He refused.

Darksparkle

decbel wrote: »

I have to say the letter from the compliance officer looks legit but the second officer in the call centre says nothing is on the system with the overpayment of nearly £600

The dates of the overpayment on the compliance letter and on the renewal letter are identical-the difference being one is asking for £600 with threats and the other is asking for £272.

We asked the second call centre operator for written confirmation of the contents of the conversation. He refused.

I missed the part about it being compliance. Yes it is possible to have penalties and interest charged during a compliance investigation if found to have deliberately claimed something you weren't entitled to. Very rare for it to be charged though.

He would refuse because it's not his job to do so, once your call is complete he'd be on to the next. You can however make a subject access request for a copy of any calls made.

decbel

Darksparkle wrote: »

I missed the part about it being compliance. Yes it is possible to have penalties and interest charged during a compliance investigation if found to have deliberately claimed something you weren't entitled to. Very rare for it to be charged though.

He would refuse because it's not his job to do so, once your call is complete he'd be on to the next. You can however make a subject access request for a copy of any calls made.

My main point is that the second call centre operator says there is nothing on he system with this higher figure.

Double dutch to me this.

The claim has been ended but the overpayment of £272 cannot be paid until next tax year.

The compliance officer ended the claim due to change of circumstances with an overpaynent of £539 and asking to pay by card or instalments and to start the process off within 31 days.

The two amounts vary by £267 between exactly the same dates.

How can that be?

What I'm concerned about is that the phone call we made to get the overpayment started won't be acknowledged as having happened.

The compliance officer in the letter was happy that the years claim had been finalised.

Thanks Darksparkle for you're help.

Darksparkle

To be honest without seeing your claim there's no real way for us to know. I'd speak to the compliance officer again personally.

decbel

Darksparkle wrote: »

To be honest without seeing your claim there's no real way for us to know. I'd speak to the compliance officer again personally.

Thanks for the advice.

But I don't fancy my chances of finding the original compliance officer.

Icequeen99

decbel wrote: »

Recently we received a letter from the tax credit compliance officer saying that we had been overpaid by nearly £600 and that we have 31 days to pay it or arrange instalments with threat of a possible fine or interest.

A couple of weeks later we received the renewal pack saying that we had been overpaid by £272.

The claim has been ended for a reason I don't wish to go into but we will be re-applying.

Now I'm obviously happy to accept the lower figure. On the phone to the tax credit call centre the agent stated that there was nothing on the system about a £600 bill.

We offered to pay the £272 but were told we can't do that until next April.

Its in front of me and not something you'll forget.

My worry is that I simply don't trust them-waiting game perhaps?

Any overpayment from previous years has been totally cleared.

Interested to know your thoughts. Thanks.

Something doesn't add up right - you need to speak to HMRC again.

The only reason you can't pay the £272 until next year is because it is an overpayment for 17/18 and we are still in that year so it hasn't been finalised.

The other amount of £600 - they can only demand it back in 31 days if it is for 16/17 - not if it is for 17/18 (unless you have moved to Universal Credit). Is it possible the £600 is for 16/17?

You can appeal the compliance decision if you disagree with it and you can also separately appeal the penalty amount.

IQ

decbel

Thanks for reply.

No, its not possible that the £600 was for 16/17

The dates for the £539 overpayment are identical to the £272.

Since receiving the £272 letter we rang tax credits. The operator says that there is nothing on the system about the £539.

One hand doesn't seem to know what the other is doing.

Darksparkle

Have you tried to call the compliance officer again? What are the dates?

decbel

Darksparkle wrote: »

Have you tried to call the compliance officer again? What are the dates?

No, not yet.

Dates are 06/04/2017-05/07/2017

That's for ctc/wtc for 1 child. But I don't actually receive any WTC because of income.

I certainly don't feel confident in speaking to the original compliance officer.