Parents must report childcare changes to HMRC – if they can get through on the 0845 number

In a bid to cut down on fraud and error, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are urging parents to report changes in their childcare.

Around 4.5 per cent of tax credits paid out in 2008/09 had errors in childcare allowances, adding up to around £380m in overpayments.

The hugely complex system is a nightmare for parents to navigate, with the slightest changes including childcare costs going up or down by £10 a week needing to be reported for reassessment.

Parents face extreme difficulties reporting changes in circumstances.

Chopsy Baby editor Jen Smith said: “The tax credit system is not parent friendly. I can recall a time when I waited for 25 minutes to get through to speak to somebody. And guess what? It’s an 0845 number.

“Flexible working hours can also be difficult to fit to the system should your childcare needs vary by £10 a week. We officially label it a bloody nightmare.”

Whilst HMRC are warning parents that failure to let them know when childcare costs change could result in prosecution, they are not making it any easier for parents to report changes.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke said: “There is too much error and fraud in our benefits and tax credit systems. These losses are unfair, unaffordable and unacceptable. In October the Government therefore launched radical new proposals to reduce the billions lost every year. We will now use credit reference agencies and data matching to spot patterns of fraud. We are also employing more investigators and will investigate each claim in high-fraud areas. We have to make every penny count – and that includes going after the cheats at every level.”
 To report a change in your tax credits, their helpline number is: 0845 300 3900