High income child benefit tax charge ― advising the taxpayer

Introduced with effect from 7 January 2013, the high income child benefit charge (HICBC) acts to clawback child benefit payments where the person receiving the child benefit or their partner earns at least £50,000. The partner with the higher income is the person who suffers the charge.

The rate of the income tax charge is 1% for every £100 by which the adjusted net income exceeds £50,000. This means that complete clawback of the child benefit effectively occurs where the earnings are £60,000 or above.

Unless the person entitled to receive the child benefit elects not to receive it, the benefit is made as usual but that person or their partner will suffer the tax charge via the self assessment system.

For full details of the tax charge and a discussion of whose income needs to be considered when applying the charge, see the High income child benefit tax charge ― overview guidance note. It is suggested that you read that guidance note before reading on. The guidance below discusses the options open to the taxpayer, the practical implications and the ways in which the charge can be mitigated.

If the HICBC is due, the only options available to the individual are:

• •suffer the tax charge, or
• •elect not to receive child benefit (which simplifies matters, especially for those who would suffer full clawback of the child benefit)

The first option is discussed in the High income child benefit tax charge ― overview guidance note.

There are a few problems associated with the second option. In the first tax year in which the HICBC applies to the household, the election not to