Tax credit nightmares keeping me awake

[Katykoos]

Hi all,

 

Sorry I know there are load of these queries at the moment - but I fear I have royally messed up and am going to at best end up with a huge overpayment, at worst end up being prosecuted. I'm 15 weeks pregnant and obviously the stress is not great right now.

 

So, 2011-2012 was the first year I claimed tax credits using income from the previous tax year 2010-2011. I'm self employed and my partner is too and he actually made a loss so our total income for the year was 6500 give or take. We have one child who is 18 months now. I made the claim last April and we were awarded the full amount, however my partner and I seperated in the June (money worries ironically) and I changed to a single claim. He managed to get regular self employment work in the July and we moved back in together in August. I called the tax credits office and told them all the updates, that he was working regularly and we were now claiming as a couple again. Not once did they ask about his income. I did think this was a little odd but when I put last year's income into the credits calculator etc, it said we were getting the correct payments so I didn't worry.

 

Anyway, now someone has told me that because our income for 2011-2012 was over 10,000 more than it was for 2010-2011 that we were not entitled to any of the money and have to pay it back?? Is this right? I don't have all of it as I checked on the calculator and was told it was correct. Obviously I should have phoned them but I checked forums etc and it seemed that it was always based on your previous year. I did my renewal earlier this month (using estimates as we were both self employed) and now am waiting for a horrible overpayment letter. I know we have been overpaid since April 2012 and I have not touched this money as I knew it would have to go back - but now I'm terrified about the previous year.

 

Can anyone shed any light/reassure me that they're not going to cart me off to prison. It was an oversight on my part not to flag it up, I know, but I honestly just didn't think!

 

Terrified here, been awake since 3am.

[MARTIN3030]

Welcome to the site.

First of all,you are not going to be carted off to Prison !

I will flag this up to site team for some thoughts.

You are not the first and wont be the last.

Over the years,there have been many here with the same issues as you and NONE have gone to Prison...so calm down dear.

[Katykoos]

Thank you - that's somewhat reassuring at least! Always worry that you're going to be that One they decide to make an example of...need to stop worrying about things that haven't happened yet. It's a terrible habit of mine

[MARTIN3030]

Its a bad habit to have !

 

I am sure you will get a few pointers before the days out.

[MARTIN3030]

Here is a fairly recent thread to read too.

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?354080-Massvie-Tax-Credits-overpayment