Independent tool · tax year 2026-27

Keep the Child Benefit cash, or stop it and stay on the claim?

The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) is a tax, not a benefit and not a reason to skip claiming without checking. You can still register for Child Benefit if the higher earner may have to pay the charge. Keep the cash and pay the tax, or stop the cash and stay on the claim. This is information only — not a guarantee. Check GOV.UK before you change a claim.

Enter your figures below for a rough 2026-27 estimate, or run the full calculator for a result based on your family.

This is information, not advice and not a guarantee you will receive a stated amount. Rules depend on your household, work and immigration status. Check GOV.UK before you apply or change a claim.

What the charge does

Published 2026-27 rates in this site’s tax-year file are £27.05 a week for the eldest child and £17.90 for each other child. The charge starts above £60,000 and reaches 100% at £80,000: 1% of Child Benefit for every £200 of income over the threshold.

If you keep the payments and a charge is due, the person with the higher income usually has to file a Self Assessment return. If you opt out of payments you do not pay the charge, because you are not receiving Child Benefit. You must still pay any charge for weeks you already received in that tax year.

Do not skip the claim altogether

Opting out of payments is not the same as never claiming. GOV.UK says staying registered is what protects National Insurance credits towards your State Pension, and means your child can get a National Insurance number without applying just before they turn 16. This tool never treats “do not claim at all” as the better option.

You can restart payments later if income falls. The charge uses the higher of you or your partner’s pay before tax, not the two of you added together.