About 3 years ago I was overpaid over a period of 18months, in total £2000. long story as to why that was not noticed, but it is all dealt with now, I am repaying it at a rate of £40 per month.
So, when I 'earnt' that higher wage, I gave the tax credit office my p60 figures as usual at renewal time and my CTC paid accordingly based on that salary. I do not know, if the salary had been given as it should be whether my credits would have increased or not.
So roll on several years and I have come to renew out credits again. I was talking with a colleague (in HR) as our income has changed over the years (for the worse) and our new income has increased so we will likely lose some of the tax credits. Not a problem, that is how we want it, to be self sufficient.
I mentioned to my colleague about the overpayment which she was already aware of, and she said that my income on the p60 was officially correct but not what I have earnt. £480 of it is money earnt 3 years ago, and I am not getting that now, but was declared to tax credit people at the time, so in effect I am declaring this income twice.
My colleague said I should take the £480 off the final income I give them. It makes complete sense. So this is what I have done.
And now, I am panicking! they will have my p60 figures and now I have given them the wrong figures compared with that, what if they think I am defrauding them and check my claim and fine me for it being wrong?
Am I wrong? I now feel uneasy, but I always do things properly by the book an worried that I must only give my P60 figures and there is no room for 'recalculating' myself.
In reality, the likelhood is this £480 won't make a difference to my claim, but I had wanted to be correct. But now I am I am worried, not even sure why as I can prove this money was declared at the time and I am repaying £40 a month back.
Should I just phone them and tell them and get them to change it to the p60 figure, or am I ok to change it myself?