Honeybee, I've had amended awards letters in the post. As I never received the original request for info she had already amended my income for 2012-2013 based on the random check with income tax people, so amended awards were in post by time I rang her. She was very nice to me, said they weren't interested in people who had just not updated their info - I took up a different, temporary post at work that was full time, so income was amended for that year and this year. I was not asked about any other info or previous years lbogirl, but I volunteered that my childcare was not accurate so I've rung them separately about that - can't bear the thought of anything else coming back to bite me. Honestly, she was very nice, explained that I wouldn't have penalties applied as its under £4000 - smallish overpayment for last year, bigger for this year as the earnings thresholds changed this year. I was terrified, but I just answered what she asked. Might have to deal with bit more unpleasant mail for this year's award about my childcare costs, but as we now have to pay back all of what we've received this year at least I know what we owe. Once they've decided how much you owe you get a formal demand for payment, which my nice compliance lady said might sound very abrupt or fierce, and not worry, but just to ring the overpayments people to make an arrangement. Honestly, I didn't eat for two days worrying, just ring them, be polite and ask them what you need to do. If you need time to answer, tell them you'll get the info and ring them back. If it helps at all, I do - through friends - know of people who work in this area. They do not take people to court unless they repeatedly ignore requests and are obstructive. All they want is their case closed, it's a pain for them - they're much happier when you speak to them, and they certainly don't want court cases, it decreases the 'yield' on any overpayment. My case was fairly straightforward (though in my head I had created all sorts of scenarios - court, house repossession) but I hope that makes you feel a wee bit better. The compliance lady said to put all those thoughts out of my head, and even when I was flapping on the phone I apologised for keeping her hanging on she said it was ok if I wanted to stay on the line while I calmed down. I even rang her back later to check it was all ok. It can't be worse than your nightmares, surely, just ring and see what they say. As I said, you can tell them you'll ring them straight back if you need to gather info. Take care x

Hi all, I may be being stupid here (!) but wanted to check. I had a previous thread couple days ago regarding compliance check letter for 2012-2013 about income. Rang them Monday, income adjusted, overpayment for last tax year which we are going to pay back. Also adjusted income for this tax year which means the childcare payments we have received since April we will have to pay back once we have confirmed earnings by way of our P60s in April next year. All of them, so that's all the money they've given us since April. Sorted, I thought. As a last question to the nice lady, I said I would have to adjust my estimated childcare costs for the last month due to only paying a retainer as I have been off work following an op. She said it was very important I did so, not just to keep things straight but because if my actual costs were less than my estimated we might have to pay more back, and then rambled about the percentage of costs they pay. I have amended my estimate, but surely if we are over the threshold to receive any help for this year and are going to pay back all the credits we've received for this tax year they can't take any more? Have gone over it in my head, they can't get more back than they've given on a simple (no penalties) overpayment?

Thank you for the help and support, so glad this website was here x

Update - rang the number, so glad I did, lady was lovely. Not a huge overpayment for 2012-2013, and she has stopped our entitlement for this year so no more payments we shouldn't have which is a huge weight off my mind. No jail (!), I cried when she told me that, she told me to stop worrying and case was closed as far as she was concerned. We will not find out how much we have to pay back for this year until April next year when we submit P60 (and I will not guesstimate again) then she went through how to pay it all back. So relieved, but still deeply ashamed, that's going to take longer to get over.

Any update on your overpayment? Would be helpful to know any outcome so far if you are able.

Thank you so much for answering, I do appreciate it greatly. I have another query, to anyone who may have received compliance check. On reading posts here and on looking at hmrc website it is recommended making a 'full disclosure' - ie, if you know about a discrepancy from another year (the previous year in my case) it would cast a better light that you had come clean fully. However I also see in posts from people who have gone to their local CAB that they were advised to simply provide info regarding only the tax year the hmrc are investigating and volunteer no more. Is that not a gamble, and if you were to lose that gamble and hmrc decided to investigate previous years you would then look deliberately fraudulent instead of just a disorganised, scared ostrich who wanted to fix things. Does anybody have any advice regarding that? You couldn't get away with saying 'well the CAB told me to just disclose one year' - or is it common that hmrc investigate only one year and leave it at that. Not trying to get out of anything, just want it fixed asap so I can sleep easy one day.

Oh my God, I'm past myself, have no idea what will happen. I want to fix it asap, will they still start civil or even criminal proceedings if I've owned up to everything and offered to pay it all back? I've spent all night reading and reading on here, not sure if I'm reassured or even more terrified. None of this was pre meditated - yes it was wrong, but I just kept putting off ringing them, and then got scared to. I have a lot to manage at home, and haven't been doing it very well, not just in the tax credit area. Do they listen to your story? I'm such an idiot, wish it was tomorrow so I can ring them, have been scared for months. Can anybody advise what usual order of events is once they get paperwork?

Hi, I need some advice please, am worried sick. Letter came yesterday from hmrc compliance saying I did not respond to their request for info regarding child tax credits award for 2012-2013 tax year in November. This letter I genuinely did not get so need to ring them tomorrow. I am not definite about what they want, but have to admit here that I've been overpaid because I did not declare all my income. On checking P60s (frantic trawl thru bags of paperwork) I can see I have also claimed for 2011-2012 when I wasn't entitled. I'm not attempting to hide what I've done, initially my income estimate was genuine for 2012 but I worked more hours than usual and got paid more. Didn't have P60 when I renewed and again guesstimated, thinking I could fix it later. Just kept putting it off, rubbish with organisation and then became too scared to ring (stupid I know). Now what I want is it all to go away. I plan to ring Monday, tell them I've made a mistake and didn't fix it, and own up to the year they've questioned and the previous year (2010-2011 was accurate). My life has just been a disorganised mess and I honestly didn't go into this deliberately, but admit I've been a fool to let it go on this long, just got worse as time went on. What are my chances of just being asked to pay it back (with or without a penalty, don't care) or is it likely I'll go to court? Intend to offer to pay all back. Very scared indeed, what an idiot. Please help.