Re-registration Required for High-Income Earners Receiving Child Benefit

Taxpayers with eligible children need to opt back into child benefit within three months if they were affected by the old £50,000 high income child benefit charge.

The cap was increased from £50,000 to £60,000 from 6 April for high income child benefit charge (HICBC) and families with one taxpayer earning up to £80,000 per annum can still benefit to some degree from child benefit payments.

The charge is tapered so if a parent or their partner, earns between £60,000 and £80,000 it may still be worth claiming.​

There is a 1% charge on child benefit for every £200 of income that exceeds £60,000. If income exceeds £80,000, the charge is equal to the amount of the child benefit payment.

However, it is important to note that the deadline to opt back into child benefits is 5 July 2024.

Child benefit increased from £24 to £25.60 for the eldest child, while the rate for other children rises to £16.95 from £15.90. Families with one child will now receive up to £1,331 a year – an annual increase of £83.20, and up to £881 a year per additional child – an annual increase of £54.60.

More details can be found on the HMRC website, together with the form required to restart your claim: High Income Child Benefit Charge: Restart your Child Benefit payments – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)