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Mum beats Revenue over tax dispute
A mum from Chorley is celebrating beating a government department in a tax credit dispute with help from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
In 2006, Diane Appleton's bank accont received more than 1,800 as a Working Tax Credit.
But a year later, HM Revenue and Customs demanded she pay back the money, claiming they had miscalculated the credit she and husband Simon were entitled to.
She set up a finance scheme to make the re-payment but then was told that a further mistake had been made.
But following a long dispute, the Department for Work and Pensions eventually admitted an administrative error and apologised.
A grateful Mrs Appleton, who works as a florist, now wants to encourage others to challenge decisions that they don't agree with.
She said: "There are a lot of people who have to deal with similar problems and who end up paying large amounts of money back to the Inland Revenue because of a mistake.
"In my case, I received a letter saying that I needed to pay back the 1,800 because I wasn't entitled to it.
"I went to the CAB and showed them the letter and they took up the matter on my behalf.
"It went on for a long time and it was quite a struggle to deal with but it was worth it in the end because they decided in our favour.
"The help I received from the staff at CAB was fantastic and I wouldn't have got this refund without their support and persistence."
Working Tax Credit is paid to anyone working 16 hours or more a week, but couples have to submit their application for the benefit together.
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said : "I am sorry to hear that Mrs Appleton has a complaint, however, I cannot discuss individual tax credit cases for taxpayer confidentiality reasons.
"In the first instance I would urge all customers to contact the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 - this should be the first point of contact for assistance if people have concerns about their tax credits.
"Tax credits provide support to 6m families and have been central in lifting 600,000 children out of poverty since 1997. They have also improved work incentives and reduced the tax burden on low to middle income families, so that three million families pay no net tax at all."
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Weather for Chorley
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
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