Sponsored by
Victory for dad in tax demand challenge
WHEN Andy Jardine was given a pay rise at work, he thought it could only ease his financial worries.
WHEN Andy Jardine was given a pay rise at work, he thought it could only ease his financial worries.But when the father of two dutifully filled out his annual declaration for tax credits, he ended up being hit with a huge bill.
A few months after submitting the forms, a letter arrived demanding 1,144, followed by another for 1,500 more, from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
And he was told if he did not pay up, he would be dragged before the courts.
Since then, Mr Jardine has spent months fighting to clear his name and prove that he has not been overpaid.
Now he has had the 1,144 demand withdrawn and is continuing to battle against the second one.
The 42-year-old, from Elton, near Peterborough, said: "They stopped my tax credits in April because I had been given a pay rise, which I can understand, but then, in January, I got a letter demanding repayment.
"Then I got another letter asking for 1,500 on top of that. I thought 'this is absolutely crazy'."
Mr Jardine says he was passed from pillar to post as he tried to resolve the issue.
And it was not until he found a website called www.taxcreditoverpayment.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk that he was able to do so.
He said: "I put in a request for all of my documents, and they proved that I had informed them of my changes.
"I also got a CD recording of the phone calls I had with them."
Mr Jardine posted the evidence, but HMRC claimed it did not receive them.
However, he had made copies of all the evidence and sent those by recorded delivery.
He said: "I finally got a letter through thanking me for the information and withdrawing the request for the 1,144.
"I would have been in court and then ordered to pay this money that I didn't owe if I hadn't fought it
"People need to know that there is a way you can prove your innocence."
Now Mr Jardine is urging others to follow his example and challenge any suspicious demands.
He said: "HMRC is very, very shrewd. all the documents say you can't appeal and that you have not told them the information so you will be hauled off to court.
"But you can appeal – it's called going into dispute with them."
An HMRC spokeswoman was unable to comment on the case because of "taxpayer confidentiality".
But she said: "Tax credit payments are based on household incomes and circumstances that can change during the course of the year.
"Payments can, therefore, be subject to adjustment.
"It is, therefore, important for tax credit recipients to tell HMRC as soon as their circumstances change so we can ensure they are being paid the right amount."
Anyone with questions about tax credits can call the confidential helpline on 0845 300 3900.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.