| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
MrsMojo 
Senior Member
Joined: 18 March 2008
Location: Wellington
Points: 8202
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: GRRR @ WFF
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 2:13pm |
We got a letter from the IRD stating I owe them $1548 of WFF overpayments. I just went through my bank statements for the financial year and worked out that they're asking for every last cent back again.
WHY?
Well, when DH (who had been a fulltime SAHD) started working again at the end of last year I called IRD to let them know and they stopped our WFF payments but apparently because DHs income during the last part of the tax year pushed us over the threshold we aren't entitled to any of the payments during that financial year (April 07 - March 08) and therefore have to pay back everything we received when we were entitled to them.
So.... if you, or your DH are planning to return to work soon beware you may end up owing the tax man, even if you notify them straight away and get your WFF payments cut off.
|
|
|
 |
|
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
mummy_becks
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Points: 14931
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 2:19pm |
Yep it sucks that it is done for the finacial year not monthly or weekly or when you return to work.
I have way over estimated our family income again this year (but I don't think I have fully as I know in December Nigel's income goes up a lot (like double)). I am looking forward to my refund for last year thou.
|
|
I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
|
|
EmDee
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Waikato
Points: 4407
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 2:20pm |
$1500 Ouch! 
Same thing happened to us at the end of the last financial year (march 2007) I wasn't expecting to go back to work when I did and earned more than I originally estimated, but thankfully we only had to pay them $550. On the up side, I just got a letter for this year and they owe me $450 
|
|
DS 8
DD 6
DS 4
DD 2
|
|
MrsMojo
Senior Member
Joined: 18 March 2008
Location: Wellington
Points: 8202
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 2:25pm |
They owed me money last year too. The real pity is they owed DH $900 this year and we went and spent that a couple of weeks ago... before getting this letter. Had they advised me earlier I'd just have plonked DH's rebate on it instead of shopping..... shopping was fun tho.
Stinks that I gave out full details of our income to the lady on the phone last year, and she could see what I'd been paid, yet she didn't mention that I'd end up owing them money. Had I known I would have AP'd back the cash in drip feeds, I guess I can still do that now.... I was in too much shock to check (and the letter's now at home), does anyone know how long I have to repay?
Edited by MrsMojo
|
|
|
|
mrshouse
Senior Member
Joined: 08 June 2007
Points: 704
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 2:32pm |
that sucks! i didnt know that that was how it works....so after i have baby in december im meant to look ahead 6months and calculate how much i will be earning in a job i dont even have yet!
|
[/url]
|
|
mummy_becks
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Points: 14931
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 2:33pm |
Usually don't have to pay it back till Feb next year
|
|
I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived!
|
|
nikkitheknitter
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Westie
Points: 7556
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 2:39pm |
|
Yep, the whole financial year thing has absolutely killed quite a few people on TNN too.
I think it makes a lot of sense to just receive the payment in a lump sum. I'm considering heading that way myself after all the pain it has caused people.
|
|
kebakat
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Palmy North
Points: 10980
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 2:42pm |
|
That sort of happened to us. DH's old work got a payrise which was backdated so he got some money from his old job, that pushed us over into the next bracket so we ended up getting nothing for 9 months from WFF cause we had had all we were allowed.
|
|
peanut butter
Senior Member
Joined: 20 February 2007
Points: 8044
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 2:48pm |
sh*t!!!! That will probably happen to us too even though I asked them time and time again about it.......we will be in exactly the same situation. At the time Tom was born I wasnt planning on working and DH was getting practically the minimum wage. As soon as he got a better job I notified them and they dropped our payments and then when I started working I notified them again and they stopped them. I cant believe we might have to pay it all back because we seriously wouldnt be able to afford that!
|
|
MrsMojo
Senior Member
Joined: 18 March 2008
Location: Wellington
Points: 8202
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 2:50pm |
 nzpiper wrote:
I cant believe we might have to pay it all back because we seriously wouldnt be able to afford that! |
I know what you mean. I'm trying to do some creative accounting atm and praying in the mean time for a lotto win.
|
|
|
|
peanut butter
Senior Member
Joined: 20 February 2007
Points: 8044
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 2:56pm |
We have just dropped down to my part time income as DH has quit his job! But I wouldnt dare risk WFF again now incase things pick up and we are over the threshold again.
It doesnt sound right does it! Fair go????
|
|
Kels
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Lower Hutt
Points: 11520
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 2:57pm |
Ouch thats not good. Can you ring and ask if you can pay it off??
|
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs
|
|
MrsMojo
Senior Member
Joined: 18 March 2008
Location: Wellington
Points: 8202
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 3:00pm |
Kels wrote:
Ouch thats not good. Can you ring and ask if you can pay it off?? |
Yep, I'm sure I can but I'll check the letter first. Becks said that usually you have until next February which sounds right so if that's the case I'll pay a set amount into an interest bearing bank account to pay them off in one go at the last possible date. At least then I get some use of the money.
Edited by MrsMojo
|
|
|
|
jack_&_charli
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: christchurch
Points: 7155
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 3:02pm |
i think it's absolutely ridiculous the way they work it out!!!!! we got a refund last year and was expecting another one this year, although really small.............got a bill for $227!!! 
it really f**ks me off!! just because you start earning more, you shouldn't be penalised for the previous months when you were getting less!!!!!
the other thing that makes me angry....DH got a payrise in january, like he usually does.....his pay went up by $40/fortnight so i rang WFF and told them....they adjusted our payments and we were down $40/fortnight what was the friggin point in getting a payrise!!!
oh well, can't be helped and i really shouldn't complain, but it just makes me mad....i'm certainly not in any hurry to pay them back
|
|
|
|
AliaDawn
Senior Member
Joined: 11 January 2008
Location: Petone, Wellington
Points: 1205
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 3:07pm |
|
As soon as we are off the student allowance, we'll probably be going for the lump sum - might actually do it beforehand when we finish paying off the credit card and buy a few important things.
|
|
|
|
LeahandJoel
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Tauranga
Points: 1414
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 3:14pm |
We stopped ours as soon as my PTC finished after Leah was born and I kept getting phone calls from them saying I could have it, I told them I wanted it done at the end of the financial year as a lump sum, took about 4 phone calls to convince them of this though!! Worked out ood this year as the end of the financial year was also the end of our first year as private contractors so we didn't know what our income was going to be and had the accountant for the business work it all out - I think I ended up with about $350 after everything was sorted, I would have ended up paying back way more if we had let it go though.
|
|
|
|
CuriousG
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Raumati South
Points: 1685
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 3:40pm |
|
*snap*
The exact same thing happened to us last year. I was absolutely ropeable. We also got a refund from the IRD for DH and we spent that only to find that we owed the money under my tax bill. I was sooooooooo angry. I paid it on the last day (7 April from memory), there was no way they were having a cent any earlier!
It really irks me because we NEEDED the money at that time. Yes, things panned out towards the end of the year and I stopped the payments but we were struggling as it was at the beginning.
I feel your pain Jo, I really do.
|
|
|
|
VioletStar
Senior Member
Joined: 07 August 2007
Location: Nelson
Points: 1190
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 3:48pm |
MrsMojo wrote:
Kels wrote:
Ouch thats not good. Can you ring and ask if you can pay it off?? |
Yep, I'm sure I can but I'll check the letter first. Becks said that usually you have until next February which sounds right so if that's the case I'll pay a set amount into an interest bearing bank account to pay them off in one go at the last possible date. At least then I get some use of the money. |
Yup initially you have till the following Feb to pay it back, but if you just couldn't manage to pay it all back and still have some owing, you can ring them up and set up a payment type plan to pay it back at an amount that suits your budget.... but you have to ring before the initial cut off payment date so you don't get penalties.
They are fine with you paying it off as long as it appears you have tried to make some effort to pay some.
|
|
Formerly Wishin41
|
|
Natalie_G
Senior Member
Joined: 09 June 2008
Location: North Shore
Points: 1638
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 4:02pm |
|
OMG im scared to even get it, typical of IRD nothing is easy for working people always get the s*** for everything.
The IRD should be able to work out straight away when incomes change not wait till end of financial year and hit working families with bills.
|
|
|
|
AnnC
Senior Member
Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Taranaki
Points: 6796
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 July 2008 at 4:04pm |
|
as I am doing alot of causual hours at the moment I am going to get our paid at the end of the financial year - we have been reciving payment up until now but I am going to ring them up - I'd rather wait if I do get some money than owe them - BUT as you say how were you to know... stinks
|
Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10)
|
|
GRRR @ WFF
