Child Tax Credits Nightmare!

CG2017

Hi Everyone,

I have an appointment with CAB in January but i wondered if anyone else had experience this...

We are a limited company, and earlier this year we filled in our tax credit form with our income, but I always (normally) put our income down as an estimate as we never get our books from our accountant until later in the year.

Our award notice came back stating we had been over paid by £4000 (approx.) although I was annoyed, I set up a payment plan of £100 per month to HMRC.

In November, our accountant came back with our actual earnings for 16/17 and it was considerably less than what I had put on our form. I then contacted HMRC to update our figures thinking our payment may be reduced. However, I apparently didn't 'tick the box' on the form to say it was an estimate, and as the 30 days had passed from when I completed the form (which was back in May/June) nothing can be done, its my error and although our income has dropped I still have to pay that money back! I wouldn't be so bothered if it was a couple of hundred pounds but £4000 that technically, I don't owe! After various conversations, and an a appeal HMRC have said 'tough' basically, CAB seem to think I may have some options but I am just curious to see if anyone had experienced the same thing?

Tax credits are there to help families in need, and I am shocked that because I missed a tick box, I am liable to pay back this money!

Any experiences with this would be welcomed.

Thank you!

Icequeen99

Firstly, did you fail to tick the box that it was an estimate?

You said that HMRC said it was 'tough' following an appeal - was it mandatory reconsideration (first stage of an appeal) or a dispute?

If it was a MR, you should have been told you have 1 month to appeal to the Tribunal. I suspect what you actually did was dispute it.

You need to get form WTC/AP and submit a late appeal on the grounds that they treated your 'appeal' incorrectly as a dispute.

IQ