Tax credits have just put nearly 10k in my bank

[TheWildOnesNeverDie]

Just checked my bank, as I do most days at 12am incase payments have Gone in from my free lance job.
I don’t earn very much so I like to keep an eye.

I have just checked and nearly had a heart attack to see there was 8k in there. Last time I checked I had £113

I quickly scrolled to see where it had come from and it says bank giro - which is usually tax credits/ child benefit, but I get paid on a Friday.
And usually only £63 per week.

I have one child, have not changed circumstances all year. Haven’t contacted them for anything recently either.

WHAT DO I DO?

Call them first thing in the morning. Do not spend it.

Have a lovely Christmas?

Seriously, just call them tomorrow. Maybe you’ll be very lucky and it might turn out they’ve worked out they owe you money from years gone by. But more likely it’s a mistake, and the last thing you want to do is spend it then have to pay it back.

Has anyone you know died? Could be inheritance?

Does it give a bank account number that it came from?

In the meantime tho, wehay!

Deffo call them and check.
I had this before and I was worried that if I spend it, I'd go to jail as it is theft.
Worked out that they had made an error with our claim and had backdated the payment and put it into my account as a lump sum.

We had an awesome Christmas in New York with that money!

Absolutely no intention of spending it, terrified they will say it’s all fine and then ask for back later !

Strangely enough I made a wish for the exact amount a few days ago, as we are struggling for cash and could very much do with it!
Still, it’s staying there Til they take it back.

Here’s too hoping they will reward my honesty (😂)

Dont spend it. Ring them tomorrow.

@Hellofromtheotherside2020 oh my gosh ! That is the dream! Glad you enjoyed it! 🥰

It IS possible that they have made a mistake, as last year I received almost nothing and we were brassic. But I always feel like it’s ‘free money’ so I should never make a fuss 😅

I really hope it's not a error OP,I had a mini windfall today and it's made my day fingers crossed you can keep it the money and it's not a mistake🍀 .

🤞🏻. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you OP.

As someone who is waiting for my tax rebate to go in this week as HMRC fucked up my tax code giving me a £2,500 allowance this year (yep, you read that right!) it wouldnt surprise me that they fucked up last year.

Keeping everything crossed you can have a stonking Christmas on that money!

Did u give correct figures for your renewal?
My friend let her dh do theirs one year and instead of estimate 25k earning he put 250k. She didn't receive payments till the following year when his end of Yr was done.. Needless to say they got a huge rebate.

Fingers crossed OP but whatever you do dont touch it until you have spoken to them and got definate confirmation from them that its correct

My friend let her dh do theirs one year and instead of estimate 25k earning he put 250k

It's always good to overestimate, I do it every year.But only by 10k max 🤣

Yeah it wasn't intentional lol. He's not done it since lmao

Bank giro just means the payment method so it could have come from anywhere. Does your bank not allow you to click on the transaction for more detail? It's strange it doesn't specify, usually it will say where the payment is from then the method of payment (or the other way round, but separate columns)

I wouldn't call tax credits unless you are sure it came from them tbh.

I'd be ringing the bank first to see if they can tell where it came from before I ring tax credits ! Is there a chance someone has paid you for free lance work but put the decimal in the wrong place so hundreds instead of thousands ?
I really hope for you that it is money you are entitled to and you get to keep it !

I'd love to hear its actually for you 🙏 😇

oh op good luck.

BORING ADULTING ADVICE ALERT

This is why I have my Gov Gateway account set up. I can sign in every month to see what my income tax payments have been, what my UC payments will be, what my tax code is etc. I would like to say that this was how I realised I was being overtaxed. Actually it was when my payslip showed I had paid 25% of my total earnings in tax which I had missed every month since April

If you set it up you can see straight away if the payment came from them rather than waiting for hours on the phone or waiting for the letter.

Oooh following! Also hoping for similar

Shameless place marking. Fingers crossed

Fingers and toes crossed that it's a rebate for you op

Place marking because I hope it's for you!

Ooh really hope you get to keep it!

Sounds like you're doing exactly the right thing. If they say you can keep it and all is correct, make sure you get the paperwork/something showing in your account to verify that somehow, don't just rely on someone on the phone saying you can spend it. Really hope it yours!