Incapacitated child tax credit

caitt

My son is 5 and has a diagnosis of autism. The criteria for this credit is that your child will be deemed permanently incapacitated beyond the age of 18 and therefore it would be deemed that they would not be able to maintain themselves past the age of 18. It is a tax credit of 3,300. In order to receive it you must have a letter from gp stating that the above is their opinion . I applied for this for my son approx 2 years ago and received it. We have had intensive intervention since then and a lot has changed for the better in the last two years so much so that I am not happy claiming this credit anymore . It was applied for at the time in complete honesty as that was truly the position at the time . Can anyone advise me what to do ? Do I just cancel the credit ? Would I have to pay it back? ( although as stated while claiming I 100% was happy with this , certain changes in my ds are now making me reconsider ) any advice appreciated . Thank you .

2ndcoming

If you write in a letter to Revenue detailing the above they will remove it for future years.

caitt

Tk u. Could I just cancel it online? And do u think they will look for repayment of credits ?

2ndcoming

No, I'd be very confident they wouldn't. Where you've come forward yourself to remove it they wouldn't go back on you like that.

Be careful if you are removing it yourself that you're in 2015 rather than 14, you could get a nasty shock in your pay if you mix it up. If you give them a call they should be able to do it for you over the phone, prob the safest bet.

caitt

Tks for your reply . I have been a bit stressed out over it tbh. Ironically it is because of extra help of tax credit and early intervention that has got us to this stage . The whole are is very grey really isn't it? I will give them a ring . Tks

Feed me Seymour

I dont know about the above replies, but the attached link brings up a smiliar discussion from a few months back, which I contributed to. It may be of use to you. (cannot post link, but last posts were in april 2014)

Just out of curiosity how old is your son? 2 years worth of the credit shouldnt be too bad, but imagine somone getting this for 18 plus years then the child does go on to live a life where they can maintain themselves, can work, can own a car and home.....

I am not a doctor, but I have got friends who have benefitted from this credit and one who also has to pay back 4 years worth of credits. The one-liner from revenue specifically says 'Permanently incapacitated either mentally or physically'...... I think that one word 'Permanently' might be the problem if you do end up having to pay back for all years....

I know I wont win many friends here, but I think the doctors should be made pay back same. After all, without the letter in the first place, you cannot get the credit.......They are the ones who use that one line 'Permanently incapacitated' and I think they should have to contribute if you do get an underpayment, ....It might make doctors think more when signing the original letter...

I hope you and your family have a wonderful life OP. Please dont think I am being patronising or anything. Just trying to give you a different response from others...

caitt

Tk u for your honest reply . My son is 5 , I guess I'm 'afraid' to ring the tax office because I don't think I could cope if I had to pay back credits . I will look for other thread now . Why did ur friend have to pay back credits etcetera

caitt

Feed me Seymour .... I had a search for that thread but can't find it .... Do u know by chance what the heading is ?