Ok what I am doing is from a blank from add a Tab Control with No Tabs. Then add 2 buttons to the form.

I add a tab via code and then add a panel inside the tab and change the color to green.

Now in another sub I want to change the Panel color to pink but I am not sure how to access it without changing the scope.

here is the code.

Public Class Form1

    Dim TabInstance As Integer = 0


    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Dim myTabPage As New TabPage()
        Dim myPanel As New Panel()

        
        myTabPage.Name = TabInstance
        myTabPage.Text = CStr(TabInstance)

        TabControl1.TabPages.Add(myTabPage)
        TabControl1.SelectedTab = myTabPage

        myPanel.Dock = DockStyle.Fill
        myPanel.Visible = True
        myPanel.BackColor = Color.Green
        myPanel.Name = "testPanel"
        myTabPage.Controls.Add(myPanel)

        'set counter for next time
        TabInstance = TabInstance + 1

    End Sub


    Public Sub ChangeTabPanelColor()
        'change the color of the panel in the first tab
        'TabControl1.TabPages(0).panel.BackColor = Color.HotPink
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
        ChangeTabPanelColor()
    End Sub

End Class

Any help would be appreciated.