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Written question asked by Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 10 February 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 February 2010. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 March 2010 on behalf of the Treasury.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many individual tax credit cases which involved overpayments made in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08 the claimants were prosecuted by his Department for the purposes of recovering such overpayments in each year in which such prosecutions were initiated.
Answer

The recovery of tax credit overpayments is a civil matter. Therefore, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not prosecute but may seek action to recover tax credit debt through the county court system in England and Wales, the Sheriff's court in Scotland and the magistrates court in Northern Ireland. This is only done as a last resort.For information on the number of actions commenced in 2006-07 and 2007-08 I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cardiff Central-(Jenny Willott) on 26 November 2008, Official Report, column 1926W. Information for years prior to 2006-07 is only available at disproportionate cost, as it is not centrally held by HMRC's systems.HMRC can and does prosecute for fraud.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
507 c887W; 317581
Session
2009-10
Subjects
Overpayments Welfare tax credits
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk