§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the time scale is for the repayment of tax credit overpayments; [142252]
(2)what methods of repayment of tax credit overpayment are available; [142253]
(3)how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) the UK have received tax credit overpayments. [142254]
§ Dawn PrimaroloOverpayments of tax credits are identified when circumstances and income for the tax year are known and the award is finalised. Therefore no figures for the number of families with overpayment are yet available. During the year, awards of tax credit may be adjusted when changes of circumstances are reported or to prevent an overpayment arising at the end of the year.
The Inland Revenue's Code of Practice 26 explains how overpayments identified at the end of the year are recovered, and over what period.