Code of Practice 26? (PDF Format)
What happens if we’ve paid you too much tax credit?
Piles of Money
Biggest Tax Credits Pay out Ever, and on Time!!!
Monday, 11 August 2008
How tax credits hit the rocks
How tax credits hit the rocks.
With Labour all at sea and rumours of mutiny clouding round Captain Gordon Brown, is his old flagship, HMS Tax Credits, heading for the breaker’s yard? Word is that many in Whitehall now believe that this once-vaunted policy is unseaworthy – so much so that insiders expect it to be scuttled by the next government. (Meaning the Tories? “Possibly,” says one senior figure. “Or possibly by a Labour prime minister who is not Gordon Brown.”) Snippets emerging from insiders suggest tax credits were doomed to disaster from their launch five years ago.
With Labour all at sea and rumours of mutiny clouding round Captain Gordon Brown, is his old flagship, HMS Tax Credits, heading for the breaker’s yard? Word is that many in Whitehall now believe that this once-vaunted policy is unseaworthy – so much so that insiders expect it to be scuttled by the next government. (Meaning the Tories? “Possibly,” says one senior figure. “Or possibly by a Labour prime minister who is not Gordon Brown.”) Snippets emerging from insiders suggest tax credits were doomed to disaster from their launch five years ago.
Friday, 1 August 2008
The health impact of a Tax Credit overpayment
The health impact of a Tax Credit overpayment has been known about since the 'Money With Your Name On It' days. However, the sheer number of dangerously distressed or suicidal people who are now contacting us has led to an unprecedented change to this home page. If you are severely distressed or suicidal, please remember that you are not alone. We can help and support you in your Dispute, which most of our 'members' have found helps a great deal; but please, please contact The Samaritans if you need them, and see your GP at the earliest opportunity! Please complete the survey below by clicking on just one option - no information other than your answer is collected, and you will retain complete anonymity : http://www.taxcc.org/
Treasury and HMRC discussion document, "Tax Credits:Improving Delivery and Choice".
Treasury and HMRC discussion document, "Tax Credits:Improving Delivery and Choice". (PDF format)
A £2.8 billion farce over tax credits
A £2.8, (£2800,000,000), billion farce over tax credits
When the political obituaries of Gordon Brown are written, the Kafkaesque system of tax credits that he introduced as chancellor will merit a chapter in itself. Today we report that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is preparing to write off £2.8 billion mistakenly overpaid in tax credits to more than 1.5m people. Worse, evidence obtained by some of those from whom HMRC is demanding repayment reveals a chaotic, error-strewn service, capable of enormous mistakes even when repeatedly provided with accurate information by claimants.
A system supposed to help those on low incomes has turned into a nightmare. A department that specialises in retrospective taxation and harassing the law-abiding cannot keep its own affairs in order. Last year HMRC lost two discs containing bank details and National Insurance numbers of every family in Britain claiming child benefit – 25m individuals. Paul Gray, its chairman, resigned but with a big pay-off and a pension pot of more than £2m.
When the political obituaries of Gordon Brown are written, the Kafkaesque system of tax credits that he introduced as chancellor will merit a chapter in itself. Today we report that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is preparing to write off £2.8 billion mistakenly overpaid in tax credits to more than 1.5m people. Worse, evidence obtained by some of those from whom HMRC is demanding repayment reveals a chaotic, error-strewn service, capable of enormous mistakes even when repeatedly provided with accurate information by claimants.
A system supposed to help those on low incomes has turned into a nightmare. A department that specialises in retrospective taxation and harassing the law-abiding cannot keep its own affairs in order. Last year HMRC lost two discs containing bank details and National Insurance numbers of every family in Britain claiming child benefit – 25m individuals. Paul Gray, its chairman, resigned but with a big pay-off and a pension pot of more than £2m.
Bullying tax officials lose £2.8 billion
Bullying tax officials lose £2.8 billion, (£2,800,000,000)
CONFIDENTIAL tapes and internal documents have exposed bullying and bungling in Gordon Brown’s flagship tax-credit scheme that will cost the taxpayer up to £2.8 billion.
More than 1.5m people have been told that they were overpaid tax credits and should now give back the money. Tax officials told them it was their own fault and informed some victims they had no right of appeal.
However, many victims have turned the tables on the tax-man, using evidence from their own case files, obtained under data protection laws, to prove officials’ errors were to blame.
This has revealed government offices in disarray, random errors inserted by computer into claimants’ files, and officials misleading claimants about the right of appeal.
CONFIDENTIAL tapes and internal documents have exposed bullying and bungling in Gordon Brown’s flagship tax-credit scheme that will cost the taxpayer up to £2.8 billion.
More than 1.5m people have been told that they were overpaid tax credits and should now give back the money. Tax officials told them it was their own fault and informed some victims they had no right of appeal.
However, many victims have turned the tables on the tax-man, using evidence from their own case files, obtained under data protection laws, to prove officials’ errors were to blame.
This has revealed government offices in disarray, random errors inserted by computer into claimants’ files, and officials misleading claimants about the right of appeal.
Friday, 18 July 2008
UK Government May Write Off GBP5bn In Lost Tax Credits
The extent of the government's losses as a result of the ongoing tax credits fiasco may be much more severe than first thought, according to new figures published on Tuesday.
The figures show that the government overpaid GBP1.7 billion, (£1,700,000,000), in tax credits in 2005/6, bringing the grand total of overpayments since the scheme was introduced in 2004 to GBP5.7 billion.
The government is already writing off almost GBP2 billion, (£2,000,000,000) as irrecoverable. However, according to new research by the Liberal Democrat Party, an additional GBP3.6 billion has been lost through the tax credit system due to fraud, the vast majority of which is never likely to be recovered. The Lib Dems say that this brings the true total of tax credit losses to GBP9 billion,(£9,000,000,000), of which GBP5 billion will have to be written off by the government.
The figures show that the government overpaid GBP1.7 billion, (£1,700,000,000), in tax credits in 2005/6, bringing the grand total of overpayments since the scheme was introduced in 2004 to GBP5.7 billion.
The government is already writing off almost GBP2 billion, (£2,000,000,000) as irrecoverable. However, according to new research by the Liberal Democrat Party, an additional GBP3.6 billion has been lost through the tax credit system due to fraud, the vast majority of which is never likely to be recovered. The Lib Dems say that this brings the true total of tax credit losses to GBP9 billion,(£9,000,000,000), of which GBP5 billion will have to be written off by the government.
Lost forever, £3bn overpaid tax credits
Lost forever, £3bn, (£3,000,000,000) overpaid tax credits.
31st May 2006, 09:09 GMT
Gordon Brown's tax credits fiasco will cost the nation £3billion, according to figures due to be released today
31st May 2006, 09:09 GMT
Gordon Brown's tax credits fiasco will cost the nation £3billion, according to figures due to be released today
£500m tax credits could be written off
£500m, (£500,000,000) tax credits could be written off
Up to £500 million in overpaid tax credits could have to be written off or even repaid by the Government because officials trying to recoup the money failed to follow correct procedures.
Osborne: 'this latest fiasco happened on Brown's watch'
Labour's flagship tax credit system has been mired in controversy since it emerged that millions of pounds had been paid in error. But in a major new setback last night, HM Revenue and Customs was forced to admit that overpayments to tens of thousands of households could have to be written off.
Up to £500 million in overpaid tax credits could have to be written off or even repaid by the Government because officials trying to recoup the money failed to follow correct procedures.
Osborne: 'this latest fiasco happened on Brown's watch'
Labour's flagship tax credit system has been mired in controversy since it emerged that millions of pounds had been paid in error. But in a major new setback last night, HM Revenue and Customs was forced to admit that overpayments to tens of thousands of households could have to be written off.
Tax Credits Explained
Tax Credits Explained
More than six million families and 600,000 workers on a low income collect tax credits, the system relaunched in 2003 by Gordon Brown to alleviate poverty. Here is a guide to the scheme.
...
History of tax credits
The original tax credit system were introduced in 1998 to encourage the unemployed back to work, with a particular focus on single mothers. In April 2003 the system was reformed with the establishment of two forms of tax credit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax credit. Since the scheme was relaunched tax credits have become synonymous with overpayment problems.
...
History of tax credits
The original tax credit system were introduced in 1998 to encourage the unemployed back to work, with a particular focus on single mothers. In April 2003 the system was reformed with the establishment of two forms of tax credit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax credit. Since the scheme was relaunched tax credits have become synonymous with overpayment problems.
...
Failings in the system continue. In May 2008, it was estimated that the Treasury had overpaid billions, (£1,000,000,000) of pounds in tax credits over the last four years which were unlikely to be clawed back in total by the government.
Meanwhile, low income workers and families who deserve tax credits are expected to leave billions of pounds worth of the credits unclaimed in the 2008/2009 tax year.
...
More than six million families and 600,000 workers on a low income collect tax credits, the system relaunched in 2003 by Gordon Brown to alleviate poverty. Here is a guide to the scheme.
...
History of tax credits
The original tax credit system were introduced in 1998 to encourage the unemployed back to work, with a particular focus on single mothers. In April 2003 the system was reformed with the establishment of two forms of tax credit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax credit. Since the scheme was relaunched tax credits have become synonymous with overpayment problems.
...
History of tax credits
The original tax credit system were introduced in 1998 to encourage the unemployed back to work, with a particular focus on single mothers. In April 2003 the system was reformed with the establishment of two forms of tax credit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax credit. Since the scheme was relaunched tax credits have become synonymous with overpayment problems.
...
Failings in the system continue. In May 2008, it was estimated that the Treasury had overpaid billions, (£1,000,000,000) of pounds in tax credits over the last four years which were unlikely to be clawed back in total by the government.
Meanwhile, low income workers and families who deserve tax credits are expected to leave billions of pounds worth of the credits unclaimed in the 2008/2009 tax year.
...
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