Working Tax Credit Taken Away Over Incorrect Hours

[OldChestNuts]

A friend asked me to try and understand the why the claims been reduced, when the claimant still works 16 hours a week. So I looked into the letter and the tax office got the claimant as working 14 hours. The payslip clearly states 64 hours on each month's pay slip (12 in total for the financial year).

Now the tax office is chasing the claimant for over payment and really worrying.
The claimant told me that the working hours is it 16 each week and she gets a monthly payslip.
How can this be explained to the tax office.

[bobbinwales]

Best to ask the task office... but maybe there seeing 64 hrs a month times 12 months as 14.7 hours a week not 16 over 52 weeks.
Is it def 16 hrs a week or def 64 hrs a month, remember some months has 5 paydays

[ZebuSanctuary]

Bob >14.45

Wouldn't holiday entitlement offset the 14.7 hours?

[bobbinwales]

Not sure what your saying Zebu.... your saying making it 14 or 16 hours ??
But its best just to go back to the tax office IMO..... online chat is good

[Hopkirk]

If it is a decent company, the HR department might be able to advise.

[OldChestNuts]

I should say, the payslip is for 4 weeks and is not monthly to be correct.

[bobbinwales]

ok so 16 hrs pw looks right so need to make sure tax office knows its a 4week pay slip....but they should know allready

[bednobs]

if she has 12 in a year, it's not 4 weekly

[Redhelen72]

OK in the first instance she needs to contact the Tax Credit helpline and explain the situation and offer to send in the payslips.
If she feels more comfortable and you are happy to then she can pass security and you can take over the call.

[wolf63]

I think it is the four week/month issue that has messed it up. Either they gave the wrong information or the tax credit people have messed it up.

[OldChestNuts]

I got to the bottom of it. The payslip should have shown 69.33 hours. The accountant that issues the payslips messed it up. The employer has paid the claimant 16 hours every week. So the accountant agreed to re-issue the payslips and P60. The employer is writing a letter to explain the errors. Hopefully this clears the mess.

[OldChestNuts]

A lessons learnt for understanding the payslips hour rates.