Tax Credit Enquiry

[blackambermay]

Hi all,
I have today received a letter from my local Inland Revenue saying they are enquiring about my tax credit award from April 06 to April 07.

Im a little worried, I hope I havent done anything wrong.
They are asking for bank and credit card statements, phone bills, rent payments in fact everything.

I would kind of understand if it had been for last year but why 06-07?

Has anyone else been through this?
In fact the more I think about it the more worried I am getting, Trying to think if I have forgotten anything.

[reallymadwoman]

Why would tax credits need anything more than proof of your income, proof that your children live with you (if appropriate) and proof of any childminding paid?

I don't understand at all what your rent, phone bill or credit card would have to do with them. I'd be inclined to phone and ask why they need them.

[blackambermay]

Well thats what I am thinking,
The list is as follows
Copy of contract of employment with the employer at the time( which I no longer have)
Utility bills for that year (again i no longer have them)
P60 and P45's
Council Tax Bill for that year (again why would I have kept this?)
Proof of childcare paid
mortgage and or rent payments for that year
Details of their father and including addresaa and has he paid any maintenence (there is a no contact order and we have changed identities so they def will not get that)
Credit card statements for that year(and I dont have those either)
Nor do I have the bank statements for that year either and they want those.

What on earth is going on?

[poppynurse]

Wierd...and why would it be the local IR?

I would ring them on Monday and ask them why they want this info.

[blackambermay]

Just a thought, you don't think it has anything to do with me going self employed in June do you as the local office is exactly where I had to write in and tell them.

[reallymadwoman]

Maybe - it depends on when you went self-employed, but I would still question why they need utility bills etc.

[blackambermay]

I went self employed june this year, and I have been doing a search on the internet and I read on another board that they ask for these sometimes to make sure the bills are in your name. Either way with regards to the credit cards and all the bank accounts I am looking at least £40 to S.A.R - (Subject Access Request) all of them in order to get the statements for that year

[reallymadwoman]

Speak to them on the phone. Find out why they need all that stuff, then if you're happy, explain that you no longer have them and can't afford to get copies. See what they say.

[poppynurse]

My OH is self-employed and we get tax credits, all they ask for is trading accounts/self assessment.

[lexis200]

Hi Blackambermay

We've just had a letter through too asking for our 'actual' income. I'm a bit concerned as I'm pretty sure I put actual rather than estimated on the form, so I don't know why they'd need this again - plus, my OH has his accounts done by an accountant, and last years aren't sorted yet and won't be for a while, so we can't give them this!

I do my own accounts, so I'm just re-checking in case I made some monumental error I missed, then I'll give them a ring and check.

I'd suggest you do this too as reallymadwoman mentioned. It will stop you worrying yourself about it, and you can properly explain everything to them. If you're not confident about phoning, explain it all clearly in a letter.

If yours is anything like mine though, they've given until the 7th to respond, but sent it 2nd class on the 24th (so it only reached me yesterday), and enclosed a 2nd class envelope to get it back to them! So, if I did write I'd be sending it by Special Delivery to ensure it got there in time, even though it would put me out a few quid.

You'll probably find it's something very simple and nothing whatsoever to worry about. It would just be far better if they could include something to this effect in the letters they send out rather than putting the fear of god into you My letter came from somewhere called Imperial Courts, and I had a massive panic before realising it was a place rather than an actual court!

[lexis200]

I've just had another thought...

We had to give almost exactly the information you've been asked for a couple of years ago, like you for the year before we were expecting them to need. The difference being we had a visit

It turned out we'd been told some total cr*p by the nursery my son was at, and as a direct result had been overpaid for about a year.

BUT - again, don't let this worry you. We explained what had happened , they were understanding and didn't behave as though we were trying to diddle them or lie to them (which we weren't I hasten to add!)

What ended up happening was they just arranged for the overpayment to be deducted from future payments at a low rate, which we are just coming to the end of now. Also, if the amounts they'd suggested would have caused us major financial issues, it could be spread out for longer. I'm not certain this still applies now, but I can't see that it wouldn't.

So, my personal view would be there's a simple explanation and for whatever reason they just need a bit more info. But, even if something has gone a bit screwy, as far as our experience went, it's not a massive problem (although it can still be worrying obviously). Again, this is where I feel they should be more transparent in their correspondence. That way you'd know if you need to be running round like a headless chicken or if they've just had a glitch at Tax Credits Central!

[WOOD73]

I am self employed and I received a letter a few months back telling me they would be investigating my claim, I ingnored it, and a few weeks back had another telling me the investigation was complete and no action was necerssary.
go to your local mp's office, they have a dedicated mp's phone line to tax credits and loads of clout!
when they phone things happen, I havent had any tax credit money for 2 weeks, and the local enquiry centre I got thrown out of this morning for losing my temper with the arrogant unsympathetic man I was dealing with who told me that the 2 payments totalling £350 that have been paid into an account that dosent exist have been lost and I will never receive them!
I am supposed to be getting a lump sum monday, and have been asked to go back to the mp's office to follow it up.
In my opinion they have no right to know about your credit card debt or any other debt, only your income.
As I am aware, a court order is required for you to disclose further information, other than your income details.
get help.

[blackambermay]

Sorry I hadnt realised people has added further replies....well I had a friend look at it and she said that she knows of at least five people alone that have had that exact letter, so my anxiety has eased somewhat, the only other thing I have found out is the nursery that my children went to have apparently been didling the books and my self as well as three others werent even on the books. the manager was pocketing the money. So I have written in the letter to see the nursery for the information as she often said I didnt need invoices etc despite me asking. The main concern regarding giving any info to the inland revenue is my children and I live under new identities because of a no contact order from my ex husband and the inland revenue have already given details about me to a debt collector for a debt as it turned out I didnt even owe!!. The debt collectors admitted on the phone thats where they get info from and the kind of info that it was I believe them!! And even if I could prove it what the hell can I do with it.....I live in a house that isnt mine, very few household bills in my name, (2 to be precise), I routinely destroy paperwork every 6 mths because we have had to run 3 times in the last 6 years. So choice between tax credits and our safety guess which one Im going to choose.
I have written a letter explaining all this and the situation can indeed be proven but if they cant accept that then there is nothing more I can do

[Sarahtip]

Hi everyone,

I seem to be in the same..or similar boat. i too have had a letter informing me they are enquiring into my award for 06/07. I was a student nurse at this time and working 16 hours a week. I received a bursary and was totally honest about it.

My concerns are;
I actually have a joint mortgage with my ex partner whom I have two children with, and a joint bank account to match...neither of which have anything to do with me other than my name.My children and I live with my mum and have done for years. My ex partner and I are very good friends and my children see him regularly, between us we have sorted our own finances. he does not pay me maintenance etc, he pays everything associated to the house.
I guess I am extremely concerned that this could be viewed as we are a couple and am really worried.
They have requested a HUGE list of info...even recent loan agreements / credit cards etc...employment contracts...everything other than a blood sample from my children or a DNA screen.

Any ideas what they are enquiring about?? I have not slept since sat when I got the letter. The officer woman said send everything in and she will make an appointment to see me within two weeks of receiving it...so now I have myself going to prison etc etc...even though I know I am innoncent...help help help

Sarah

[blackambermay]

Don't know if this is true but I was looking on another website regarding the enquiries and it has been suggested that Inland Revenue have already conducted their enquiry and are asking for the documents to see whether you are telling the truth or not.

Bit concerning if that is the case, as I understood it all details were checked at the point of renewing your claim, and the reason I say that is because last year I put a larger figure in as I had not received my p60 and when I got the confirmation I had by then received my p60 and the figures matched exactly. I had over estimated. So checks are taking place at the point of renewal!! So why the enquiries I wonder.

[jodesbailey]

hi

i too had aletter stating they were looking into 06/07 which i sent off all information.
but today received another letter wanting the same for 07/08, i am not worried as i have done nothing wrong but its extremely concerning that they would want details of loans, credit cards even tv licence.
i have not received anything back from the first enquiry as yet as that had to be in by the 12 th august but will update as soon as i do.
anyone else heard back from theirs yet??

[jodesbailey]

just a quick update -
i rang my compliance officer this morning and was advised that they didn't actually need all 06/07 information but in fact it was 07/08 they needed so they are sending all my stuff back to me and now i have until the 22nd september to get all last years information of to them.
I am assuming that as I put a claim in for incapacity benefit in october 2007 (not the income support side of it) that this is why they are enquiring into my award.
I earned just over 6,000 last year but this year i expect it will not be more than £3000 but to be honest i don't really think that this will throw up any overpayments.
Whats worrying me is I was advised by tax credits when i phoned them to let them know that i was in receipt of incapacity benefit they said it didnt matter and wouldn't affect my claim. I now wonder if i was wrongly advised.
Has anyone heard anything about theres yet??? I have googled this like a mad woman and found loads of similar queries where nothing has happened as yet.

[blackambermay]

haha @ googled like mad....so have I
I am unsure as to whether to actually send the letter I have to be honest. You see I don't trust them one bit and I am more than concerned that the situation that I live in will count against me.
The letter that I have written is sitting on my bookcase and I am almost sure it is laughing at me (just to keep on an up mood)
How that will effect me I don't know....I feel like im between a hard rock and a brick wall. As for paranoid, blimey thats an understatement.
I wish to god someone from Inland Revenue could come on here and advise.