HMRC to review suspending 23,500 child benefit payments
HMRC to review suspending 23,500 child benefit payments
The tax body had used travel data to conclude that thousands of parents had left the country permanently but many say they just went on holiday.
Read the full article on BBC Politics
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article is mostly accurate, focusing on the HMRC's review of suspended child benefit payments. It accurately reflects the core issue of HMRC using travel data and the subsequent concerns about data accuracy. The article presents the information in a relatively neutral tone, though the selection of the specific incident might indicate a slight bias towards highlighting government errors.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim: HMRC to review suspending 23,500 child benefit payments.
- Verification Source #1: Confirms HMRC paused the crackdown after 23,500 families were caught up in a data error and are undertaking a review.
- Verification Source #3: Confirms 23,500 families were wrongly suspected of fraud.
- Assessment: Supported
- Claim: The tax body had used travel data to conclude that thousands of parents had left the country permanently but many say they just went on holiday.
- Verification Source #2: Implies this by stating HMRC sent letters to claimants whose payments were suspended while inquiries continued.
- Verification Source #4: Confirms HMRC suspended child benefit payments using inaccurate Home Office travel data.
- Assessment: Supported
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Source 1: "The flawed data led to HMRC suspending 23,500 payments in recent ... review."
- Source 4: "The UK government faces scrutiny after the HMRC suspended child benefit payments for thousands of families using inaccurate Home Office travel ..."