Child Benefit Calculator UK 2025/26
Calculate your child benefit including the High Income Child Benefit Charge with accurate 2025/26 rates
Last updated: February 2026
Calculate Your Child Benefit
Enter your details to calculate child benefit and any high income charge
Child Benefit Rates 2025/26 (from April 2025)
- First or only child: £25.60/week = £1,331.20/year
- Each additional child: £16.95/week = £881.40/year
- Two children (total): £42.55/week = £2,212.60/year
- Three children: £59.50/week = £3,094.00/year
Source: GOV.UK — Child Benefit amounts
HICBC Rates 2025/26 (April 2024 Reform)
- Income under £60,000: No charge — keep full Child Benefit
- Income £60,000–£80,000: 1% charge per £200 above £60,000 (taper)
- Income over £80,000: 100% repayment — claim but elect not to receive payments to protect NI credits
- Note: threshold was £50,000 before April 2024
About This Calculator
This calculator is part of UK Calculator's comprehensive suite of financial, health, and utility tools designed specifically for UK residents. All calculations use the latest 2025/26 tax rates and official UK guidelines.
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Claim Even If You Don't Need The Money - Protect Your State Pension NI Credits (Worth £5,000-£50,000 In Retirement)
How it works: Even if your income is above £60,000 and you must repay 100% of child benefit via the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC), you should STILL claim child benefit and elect not to receive payments. Why? Claiming protects your National Insurance (NI) credits, which count towards your state pension. Without these NI credits, you could lose £5,000-£50,000 in state pension income over retirement! The state pension is currently £221.20/week (£11,502/year). You need 35 qualifying years of NI contributions to get the full amount. Each year of missing NI credits reduces your pension by £328/year (£11,502 ÷ 35). Over a 20-year retirement, that's £6,560 lost per missing year!
Example: Sarah earns £75,000 and has two children aged 3 and 5. She thinks "I earn too much for child benefit, so I won't bother claiming." MISTAKE! She should claim child benefit but tick the box "I don't want to receive payments" on the claim form. This way: 1) She gets NI credits protecting her £11,502/year state pension. 2) She doesn't receive the £2,212/year child benefit payments. 3) She doesn't need to repay via HICBC because she didn't receive payments. Over 12 years of childcare (until youngest is 16), those NI credits protect 12 years × £328/year = £3,936/year state pension. Over 25-year retirement = £98,400 protected pension income! All for spending 20 minutes filling out the claim form and ticking one box!
Action step: Claim child benefit online at www.gov.uk/child-benefit within 3 months of birth. On the claim form, tick "I do not want to receive Child Benefit payments" if your income is above £60,000. You'll still get the crucial NI credits without triggering HICBC repayment obligations. Check your NI record annually at www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record to verify credits are being applied.
Optimize High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) - Use Pension Contributions To Stay Under £60,000 Threshold (Save £1,331-£2,212/Year)
How it works: From April 2024, the HICBC applies if you or your partner earn over £60,000 adjusted net income (your total taxable income AFTER pension contributions, Gift Aid donations, and certain other reliefs). The charge is 1% of your child benefit for every £200 of income between £60,000 and £80,000. At £80,000+, you repay 100%. This threshold was raised from £50,000 in April 2024. BUT you can reduce your adjusted net income by making pension contributions! For every £1 you put in your pension (with 20% tax relief), your adjusted income drops by £1.25 (because of the tax relief grossing up). This can drop you below the £60,000 cliff edge or reduce your HICBC percentage significantly.
Example - Avoiding the £80,000 cliff (2024/25 rates): Mark earns £83,000 gross salary and has two children (child benefit = £1,331.20 + £881.40 = £2,212.60/year). At £83,000, he must repay 100% of child benefit via HICBC. Solution: Mark increases his workplace pension contributions by £250/month (£3,000/year net after 20% tax relief = £3,750 gross pension contribution). His adjusted net income becomes £83,000 - £3,750 = £79,250. HICBC percentage = (£79,250 - £60,000) ÷ 200 = 96.25%, so he repays £2,212.60 × 96.25% = £2,129.62. He keeps £82.98 of child benefit AND gains £3,750 in his pension pot. The pension cost him only £3,000 after tax relief.
Better strategy — drop below £80,000: If Mark contributes £3,200 gross pension (£2,560 net after tax relief), adjusted income = £83,000 - £3,200 = £79,800. HICBC = (£79,800 - £60,000) ÷ 200 = 99%, repay £2,190, keep £22. If he contributes £23,000 gross to pension, adjusted income = £60,000, HICBC = 0% — he keeps the full £2,212.60! The pension cost him only £18,400 after basic rate tax relief, and he gains a £23,000 pension pot plus £2,212.60 child benefit.
Action step: Use HMRC's Child Benefit tax calculator (www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-calculator) to calculate your current HICBC. Then use a pension calculator to see how much you'd need to contribute to drop below £60,000 or reduce your HICBC percentage. Adjust your workplace pension contributions via your employer's salary sacrifice scheme for maximum tax efficiency (saves 20-45% income tax + 12-2% NI).
Make Strategic Spouse Choice For Claim - Lower Earner Should Receive Payment To Maximize Net Household Income
How it works: Only ONE person can claim child benefit for each child. If you're a couple, it matters who claims! The HICBC is based on the HIGHER earner's income in the household, but it's charged to the person who receives the child benefit payment. If the lower earner claims and receives the payment, and the higher earner's income triggers HICBC, the higher earner must register for Self Assessment and repay the charge via their tax return. However, if both partners earn below £60,000, it doesn't matter who claims. If one earns £60,000-£80,000 and the other earns less, the lower earner should claim so at least they get NI credits (both parents can't get NI credits for the same child simultaneously - only the claimant gets them).
Example — Incorrect setup (2024/25 rates): Emma earns £74,000, her partner David earns £35,000. Emma claims child benefit for their two children (£2,212.60/year). Because Emma earns £74,000, HICBC applies: (£74,000 - £60,000) ÷ 200 = 70% charge = £1,548.82/year repayable via Emma's Self Assessment. Net child benefit = £663.78/year. Emma gets the NI credits.
Example - Optimized setup: David claims child benefit instead. HICBC STILL applies because Emma (higher earner) earns £58,000, so Emma must repay £1,770 via HER Self Assessment, but David receives the £2,212 payment and David gets the NI credits. Wait, that's the same outcome! TRUE, but here's the key difference: If Emma's income fluctuates (bonus years, maternity leave, redundancy), it's easier to manage if the stable lower earner (David) is the claimant. Also, if Emma later becomes self-employed or leaves the workforce, having David as claimant means continuity of payment and NI credits. Plus, if Emma already has full NI record from employment, David getting the NI credits might be more valuable if he has gaps from career breaks.
Action step: Check your household situation. If both partners work, generally the lower earner should claim child benefit to get NI credits (especially if the higher earner already has a full NI record from employment). If the higher earner is above £60,000, they should still claim but elect not to receive payments (to protect their own NI record). You can transfer the claim between partners by the current claimant submitting a "Stop Child Benefit" form and the other partner making a new claim.
Claim Immediately After Birth - Don't Miss 3-Month Backdating Limit (Lose £102-£341 Per Child)
How it works: You can claim child benefit as soon as you register the birth (or when a child comes to live with you). Child benefit can be backdated up to 3 MONTHS from the date you make your claim, but NO FURTHER! If you delay claiming for more than 3 months after the birth/adoption, you permanently lose those payments. For the eldest/only child, that's £25.60/week = £102.40 per 4-week period. 3 months = ~3 periods = £307.20 lost. For additional children, £16.95/week = £67.80 per 4-week period = £203.40 lost over 3 months. Many new parents delay claiming because they're busy, forget, or think "I'll get around to it" - and lose hundreds of pounds permanently!
Example - Costly delay: Lisa has her first baby on 1 January 2025. She's busy with the newborn and forgets to claim child benefit. She finally remembers and claims on 1 June 2025 (5 months later). The child benefit claim is backdated 3 months to 1 March 2025. The period 1 January - 1 March (8 weeks) is LOST FOREVER = 8 × £25.60 = £204.80 gone permanently. If she'd claimed within 3 months of birth, she'd have received the full amount from the birth date!
Example - Multiple children: Ahmed adopts two children (aged 3 and 6) who come to live with him on 15 February 2025. He doesn't realize he can claim child benefit for adopted children. He discovers this on 20 June 2025 (4+ months later) and claims immediately. Backdating limited to 3 months = claim starts 20 March 2025. Lost period 15 Feb - 20 March = ~5 weeks. Child benefit for 2 children = £25.60 (eldest) + £16.95 (additional) = £42.55/week. Lost amount = 5 × £42.55 = £212.75 permanently gone!
Action step: Claim child benefit online (www.gov.uk/child-benefit) or via paper form CH2 within 3 MONTHS of birth, adoption, or child coming to live with you. Set a phone reminder for 2 weeks after expected birth date to claim. For new fathers/partners, if the mother is too busy recovering, YOU can claim on her behalf (though she must be named as the person entitled to receive payments if she wants NI credits). The claim takes ~20 minutes online and payments start within 12 weeks of claiming.
Understand Two-Child Limit Exceptions - Multiple Births, Non-Consensual Conception, Adoption Count As Exceptions
How it works: There's no "two-child limit" for Child Benefit itself - you can claim for ALL your children regardless of how many you have! The "two-child limit" only applies to certain other benefits like Universal Credit and Tax Credits (where the child element is limited to first 2 children born after April 2017). Child Benefit has NO such limit. You get £25.60/week for the eldest child and £16.95/week for EACH additional child, no matter if you have 2, 5, or 10 children! This is a common misconception that causes parents with 3+ children to not claim for all of them. However, be aware that if you receive Universal Credit or Tax Credits, there IS a two-child limit for those benefits (with exceptions for multiple births, non-consensual conception, adopted children, kinship care, and children born before April 2017).
Example - Child Benefit has NO limit: Rachel has 5 children aged 2, 4, 7, 10, and 13. She claims child benefit for ALL 5 children. Annual child benefit = £25.60/week (eldest) + (4 × £16.95/week) = £25.60 + £67.80 = £93.40/week = £4,856.80/year. If Rachel mistakenly thought she could only claim for 2 children, she'd lose £67.80/week (3 additional children) = £3,525.60/year permanently!
Example - Universal Credit two-child limit (different benefit): If Rachel also receives Universal Credit, the UC child element IS limited to 2 children (born after April 2017), UNLESS there's an exception. UC child element is £333.33/month per child for first 2 children. If her 3rd, 4th, and 5th children were born after April 2017 and there's no exception (e.g., not multiple births, not adopted, not non-consensual conception), Rachel gets UC child element for only 2 children = 2 × £333.33 = £666.66/month. BUT she still gets Child Benefit for all 5 children = £420.73/month (£4,856.80 ÷ 12), which is separate from UC!
Action step: Always claim Child Benefit for ALL your children - there is NO two-child limit for Child Benefit. If you receive Universal Credit or Tax Credits and have 3+ children born after April 2017, check if any exceptions apply (www.gov.uk/guidance/two-child-limit-exceptions). Exceptions include: multiple births (twins, triplets), children conceived through non-consensual conception (with third-party evidence), children adopted from local authority care, children under kinship care arrangements, and children born before 6 April 2017.
Use Salary Sacrifice To Reduce Adjusted Net Income — Pension, Cycle-To-Work Can Drop You Below £60,000 HICBC Threshold (2024/25 Updated)
How it works: Salary sacrifice schemes let you give up part of your gross salary in exchange for a non-cash benefit (pension, childcare vouchers if you joined scheme before Oct 2018, cycle-to-work scheme, electric car scheme, etc.). Because your gross salary is reduced BEFORE tax and National Insurance calculations, your "adjusted net income" for HICBC purposes is also reduced! This is different from paying for things with your net (after-tax) salary. Example: If you earn £65,000 and pay £5,000 pension from your net salary, your adjusted income is still £65,000. But if you use salary sacrifice to pay £5,000 gross pension (= £4,000 net after basic rate tax relief), your adjusted income drops to £60,000 — right at the HICBC threshold. Contribute £5,001 gross and pay zero HICBC!
Example — Pension salary sacrifice (2024/25 rates): James earns £65,000 and has one child (child benefit £1,331.20/year). His HICBC = (£65,000 - £60,000) ÷ 200 = 25% = £332.80/year repayable. Solution: James increases his workplace pension via salary sacrifice by £420/month (£5,000/year gross). His adjusted income = £65,000 - £5,000 = £60,000 = NO HICBC! He keeps full £1,331.20 child benefit + gains £5,000 in pension. The £5,000 pension only cost him £5,000 - £1,000 (20% tax relief) - £600 (12% NI saving) = £3,400 net cost. Gains: £5,000 pension + £332.80 HICBC avoided = £5,332.80 benefit for £3,400 cost. Return: 57%!
Example — Cycle-to-work scheme (2024/25 rates): Sophie earns £62,400 and has two children (child benefit £2,212.60/year). HICBC = (£62,400 - £60,000) ÷ 200 = 12% = £265.51/year repayable. She signs up for a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice to get a £2,500 e-bike spread over 12 months (£208/month gross salary reduction). Her adjusted income becomes £62,400 - £2,500 = £59,900 = NO HICBC for that tax year! She keeps £265.51 child benefit + gets a £2,500 bike while only paying £2,500 - £500 (20% tax) - £250 (10% NI) = £1,750. A £2,500 bike for £1,750 AND £265.51 HICBC saved = total value £1,015.51!
Action step: Check what salary sacrifice schemes your employer offers (pension, cycle-to-work, electric vehicle, etc.). Calculate how much gross salary sacrifice you need to drop below £60,000 (the 2024/25 HICBC starting threshold) — or ideally below £60,000 for zero HICBC. Speak to your HR/payroll department about setting up salary sacrifice. Remember: childcare vouchers are only available if you joined the scheme before October 2018 (replaced by Tax-Free Childcare for new joiners). Always compare Tax-Free Childcare vs childcare vouchers if you're in an existing voucher scheme!
Keep Claiming Through Age 16-20 - Approved Education/Training Qualifies Until Age 20 (Extra £881-£1,331/Year Per Child For 4 Years)
How it works: Child benefit doesn't automatically stop when your child turns 16! It continues until they turn 20 IF they're in "approved education or training." This includes A-levels, Scottish Highers, T-levels, NVQs up to level 3, apprenticeships, traineeships, and some college courses. The child must be in full-time non-advanced education (more than 12 hours/week of supervised study or course-related work experience) or approved training. Advanced education (university degrees, HNDs) does NOT count - child benefit stops when they start university at age 18+. Many parents don't realize this and stop claiming when their child turns 16, losing £881-£1,331/year for up to 4 years!
Example - A-levels (age 16-18): Jordan turns 16 on 1 June 2025 and starts A-level courses in September 2025. His mother Karen continues claiming child benefit (Jordan is youngest child, so £16.95/week = £881.40/year). Jordan studies A-levels for 2 years until June 2027 (age 18). Then Jordan starts university in September 2027. Karen must notify HMRC in August 2027 that Jordan is leaving full-time non-advanced education, and child benefit stops (because university is advanced education). If Karen had mistakenly stopped claiming when Jordan turned 16, thinking "he's not a child anymore," she'd have lost 2 years × £881.40 = £1,762.80!
Example - Apprenticeship (age 16-20): Mia turns 16 in July 2025 and starts a level 3 apprenticeship in September 2025. Her father continues claiming child benefit (£16.95/week as additional child). Mia's apprenticeship runs until August 2028 when she turns 19. As long as the apprenticeship is approved training and she's under 20, child benefit continues! If Mia completes the apprenticeship before turning 20 but stays in the same job, child benefit stops when the apprenticeship ends (because she's no longer in training, she's just working). Total child benefit over 3 years = 3 × £881.40 = £2,644.20. If father had thought "apprenticeships don't count, she's earning money," he'd lose £2,644.20!
Example - Gap in education: Tom turns 16 in May 2025, finishes GCSEs in June 2025, and starts A-levels in September 2025. There's a 3-month summer gap. Child benefit CONTINUES during the summer gap as long as Tom has been accepted onto an approved course starting in September and the gap is no more than a few months. The child benefit claim form asks you to notify HMRC when your child leaves education or training - you only do this when they actually LEAVE, not during summer holidays or short gaps between courses!
Action step: Don't stop claiming child benefit when your child turns 16! Check if they're in approved education/training (www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19). Common qualifying courses: A-levels, BTECs, T-levels, Scottish Highers, NVQs level 1-3, traineeships, and apprenticeships. You must notify HMRC if your child leaves education/training or their circumstances change, but you do NOT need to reapply when they turn 16 - the claim just continues automatically as long as they're in qualifying education. Download form CH297 (Child Benefit extension form) if HMRC asks for evidence of education - your child's school/college can complete it.
7 Costly UK Child Benefit Mistakes To Avoid (2025/26)
Not Claiming At All - Lose £1,331/Year For First Child + £881/Year Per Additional Child + 12+ Years NI Credits Worth £5,000-£50,000 Pension
The mistake: Many parents, especially higher earners above £60,000, think "I earn too much, so I'm not eligible for child benefit" and never claim. This is the single most costly mistake! Even if you must repay 100% via HICBC, you should STILL claim and elect not to receive payments to protect your National Insurance credits for state pension. Other parents simply forget to claim, don't know it exists, or think "it's not worth the hassle for £25/week." But £25/week = £1,331/year = £15,972 over 12 years (until child turns 16)! Plus, if you don't claim, you don't get NI credits. Each missing year of NI credits reduces your state pension by £328/year (current full pension £11,502/year ÷ 35 qualifying years). Over a 20-30 year retirement, that's £6,560-£9,840 lost per missing year!
Real-world impact: Claire is a senior manager earning £85,000. She has a 3-year-old daughter. Claire thinks: "I earn way over £60,000, so I can't get child benefit." She never claims. MISTAKE COST: 1) Lost child benefit: Even though she'd have to repay 100% via HICBC, she could have claimed and elected not to receive payments (zero HICBC repayment obligation). 2) Lost NI credits: From her daughter's birth to age 16 = 16 years of missing NI credits. Impact on state pension: 16 × £328/year = £5,248/year permanent pension reduction! Over 25-year retirement = £131,200 lost pension income! 3) If Claire takes a career break in the future (redundancy, illness, caregiving for elderly parents), those missing years can't be recovered because the child benefit claim window has passed. She's permanently damaged her state pension record!
How to avoid: ALWAYS claim child benefit, regardless of income. Use the online claim (www.gov.uk/child-benefit) within 3 months of birth. On the claim form, if your income is above £60,000, tick the box "I do not want to receive Child Benefit payments." This way: you get NI credits (protecting £5,000-£50,000+ future pension), you don't receive payments (so no HICBC repayment needed), and you keep your options open (if your income drops below £60,000 in future, you can start receiving payments immediately without a new claim). It takes 20 minutes to claim - arguably the most valuable 20 minutes you'll ever spend for your retirement security!
Missing 3-Month Backdating Deadline - Claim More Than 3 Months After Birth = Permanently Lose £102-£341 (And Counting)
The mistake: Child benefit can only be backdated 3 months from the date of your claim. If you claim 4 months after birth, you lose 1 month of payments. If you claim 12 months after birth, you lose 9 months of payments. This money is gone FOREVER - there's no way to recover it, even if you had a good reason for the delay (except in very exceptional circumstances like severe illness preventing you from claiming). For the first child, losing 3 months = 13 weeks × £25.60 = £332.80 gone permanently. For additional children, £16.95/week × 13 weeks = £220.35 lost. Many new parents are overwhelmed with the newborn, forget to claim, or think "I'll do it later when things settle down" - and end up losing hundreds of pounds!
Real-world impact: Gemma has twins on 10 January 2025 (her first children). She's exhausted and overwhelmed with two newborns. She keeps meaning to claim child benefit but keeps putting it off. Finally, on 15 June 2025 (5+ months later), her friend reminds her to claim. Gemma claims online on 15 June. Backdating is limited to 3 months = claim starts 15 March 2025. Lost period: 10 Jan - 15 March = 9+ weeks. Child benefit for twins = £25.60 (eldest by 2 minutes!) + £16.95 (second twin) = £42.55/week. Lost amount = 9 × £42.55 = £382.95 GONE FOREVER. If Gemma had claimed within 3 months of birth (by 10 April), she'd have received the full amount from 10 January. That £382.95 could have paid for 3 months of nappies for twins!
How to avoid: Claim child benefit WITHIN 3 MONTHS of birth/adoption/child coming to live with you. Set a phone reminder for 2 weeks after birth. If you're the birthing parent and too busy recovering, ask your partner, parent, or friend to help you complete the online claim (takes 20 minutes). You don't need the birth certificate to claim - you can submit the claim with "birth certificate to follow" and send the certificate when you receive it (usually within 1-2 weeks of registering the birth). For online claims, you'll need: your National Insurance number, partner's NI number (if applicable), your bank details (for payment), and your address. That's it! Don't delay - claim as soon as possible after birth to maximize your backdating protection window!
Wrong Partner Claims When High Earner - If You Earn £55,000 And Partner Earns £40,000, Partner Should Claim To Maximize NI Credits
The mistake: When both partners work, it matters who claims child benefit for NI credit purposes. Only the person who claims and receives the child benefit gets the NI credits (both parents can't get credits for the same child simultaneously). If the higher earner claims but already has a full NI record from employment (working 35+ hours/week earning above Lower Earnings Limit), those NI credits are "wasted" because they don't add anything extra to their state pension. Meanwhile, the lower earner (who might have part-time work, career breaks, or gaps in their NI record) misses out on valuable NI credits that could protect their future pension. This mistake is especially costly when the lower earner has an incomplete NI record and every extra qualifying year counts!
Real-world impact: David earns £58,000 working full-time (already gets full NI credits from employment). His wife Helen earns £22,000 working part-time 3 days/week (gets NI credits from part-time work, but has had several career breaks for childcare and only has 18 qualifying years so far - needs 35 for full state pension). David claims child benefit for their two children and receives the payments. MISTAKE COST: 1) David gets the NI credits, but he doesn't need them - he already has full NI record from full-time employment. 2) Helen doesn't get any NI credits from child benefit (because David claimed), so her NI record stays at 18 years. 3) By retirement (assuming Helen works part-time for another 15 years), she'll have 18 + 15 = 33 qualifying years, missing 2 years for full pension. State pension reduction = 2 × £328/year = £656/year less pension. Over 25-year retirement = £16,400 lost! If Helen had claimed child benefit instead, she'd get the NI credits for the 12 years until youngest child turns 16, giving her 18 + 15 + 12 = 45 qualifying years (well above the 35 needed), ensuring full state pension = £16,400 protected!
How to avoid: Check both partners' NI records at www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record. Identify who has gaps or incomplete years (needs credits most). Generally: If one partner works full-time and the other part-time or has career breaks, the part-time/lower earner should claim child benefit to get NI credits. If both work full-time, it doesn't matter as much (both already get full NI from employment), but consider who might take career breaks in future (e.g., for eldercare, further childcare, illness). You can transfer child benefit claims between partners by the current claimant stopping their claim and the other partner making a new claim (though this creates a gap in payments, so time it carefully - ideally align with the 4-week payment cycle).
Not Understanding £80,000 HICBC Cliff — £79,999 Income = Keep Partial Benefit, £80,000 = Repay 100% Via Self Assessment (£1,331-£2,212/Year)
The mistake: From April 2024, the High Income Child Benefit Charge has a 100% repayment cliff edge at £80,000 adjusted net income. At £79,999, you repay 99.995% and keep a tiny fraction. At £80,000+, you repay 100% = lose the entire £1,331-£2,212/year. Many people don't realise the taper starts at £60,000 with 1% per £200 of income. If you earn £70,000, you pay 50% HICBC and keep half your child benefit. If you reduce your adjusted income by £10,000 (e.g., via pension contributions), you drop to £60,000 = zero HICBC = keep 100% of child benefit! The real win is getting adjusted income below £60,000.
Real-world impact (2024/25 rates): Priya earns £80,200 and has one child (child benefit £1,331.20/year). Her HICBC = 100% (income over £80,000) = must repay £1,331.20 via Self Assessment. She thinks: "I've already lost the benefit, nothing I can do." MISTAKE! If Priya contributes £20,201 gross pension (= £16,160 net after basic rate tax relief), her adjusted income drops to £59,999 = ZERO HICBC = keep full £1,331.20 child benefit! Her pension costs £16,160 net but she gains £20,201 pension + £1,331.20 child benefit recovered = total benefit £21,532.20. Even contributing £10,000 gross reduces her HICBC by 50%: adjusted income £70,200, HICBC = (£70,200-£60,000)÷200 = 51% = repay £679, keep £652. A great outcome for modest pension effort!
How to avoid: Use HMRC's child benefit tax calculator (www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-calculator) to see your exact HICBC. If you're between £60,000 and £80,000, calculate how much pension/salary sacrifice you'd need to drop below key thresholds: below £80,000 (avoid 100% charge), below £70,000 (pay only 50% charge), or ideally below £60,000 (pay zero charge). Every £200 of income reduction saves 1% of child benefit. Use pension contributions (20% tax relief + NI savings make it very cost-effective), Gift Aid donations (if you donate to charity anyway), or salary sacrifice schemes to reduce adjusted income. Remember: You can make pension contributions until 5 April (end of tax year) and they count for that tax year's HICBC calculation!
Stopping Claim Without Realizing NI Impact - Stop Claiming = Lose NI Credits = £5,000-£50,000 State Pension Loss Over Retirement
The mistake: Some parents stop claiming child benefit when they receive a letter from HMRC about the High Income Child Benefit Charge, thinking "this is too complicated, I'll just stop claiming." Others stop when they get a pay rise that takes them over £60,000, thinking "I have to repay it all anyway, why bother claiming?" BIG MISTAKE! Even if you repay 100% of the child benefit via HICBC, you should keep the claim active but elect not to receive payments. This way, you avoid the HICBC repayment obligation (because you're not receiving payments) BUT you still get the NI credits that protect your state pension. Stopping the claim entirely means losing those NI credits permanently, which can cost £5,000-£50,000 over a 20-30 year retirement!
Real-world impact: Aisha earns £48,000 and claims child benefit for her two children (£2,212/year). She gets promoted and her salary increases to £62,000. She receives a letter from HMRC saying she needs to register for Self Assessment to pay the HICBC. Aisha panics: "This sounds complicated, I don't want to deal with Self Assessment. I'll just stop claiming child benefit." She calls HMRC and stops her child benefit claim. MISTAKE COST OVER 10 YEARS: 1) Lost child benefit payments: £2,212/year × 10 years = £22,120 (she was repaying this via HICBC anyway, so actual loss is £0 from this). 2) Lost NI credits: 10 years × £328/year state pension reduction = £3,280/year less pension. Over 25-year retirement = £82,000 lost pension income! CORRECT ACTION: Aisha should have kept the claim active but ticked "I do not want to receive Child Benefit payments" on HMRC's online account or by calling them. This way: she gets NI credits (protecting £82,000 future pension), she doesn't receive payments (so no HICBC repayment needed - no Self Assessment required!), and if her income drops below £60,000 in future (redundancy, maternity leave, career change), she can immediately resume receiving payments without making a new claim!
How to avoid: NEVER stop your child benefit claim just because of HICBC! Instead, log into your HMRC online account (www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account), go to "Child Benefit," and choose "I do not want to be paid Child Benefit." Alternatively, call HMRC Child Benefit helpline (0300 200 3100) and ask them to stop payments but keep the claim active for NI credit purposes. Your claim stays open, you get NI credits, but you don't receive payments (so no HICBC repayment obligation). If your circumstances change later (income drops, you take a career break, partner's income changes), you can restart payments immediately. This keeps all your options open while protecting your state pension!
Not Using Pension Contributions - £65,000 Salary With £5,000 Pension Sacrifice = £60,000 Adjusted Income = No HICBC, Save £1,331-£2,212/Year
The mistake: Many people don't realize that pension contributions reduce your "adjusted net income" for HICBC purposes. They see their gross salary is £65,000, look at the HICBC table, and think "I'm over £60,000, I lose all the child benefit." They don't consider using pension contributions to bring their adjusted income below £80,000 (avoid 100%) or £60,000 (avoid HICBC entirely). This mistake costs £1,331-£2,212/year in HICBC PLUS they miss out on the tax relief and NI savings from pension contributions (20-45% tax relief + 2-12% NI saving = 22-57% boost to pension contributions!). The math is incredibly compelling: you can reduce your HICBC, boost your pension, AND pay less overall tax/NI - a triple win!
Real-world impact: Oliver earns £83,000 gross salary and has two children (child benefit £2,212.60/year). His HICBC = 100% (over £80,000) = must repay £2,212.60. He currently contributes 5% pension (£4,150/year). Oliver thinks: "I'm already losing the child benefit, nothing I can do." MISTAKE! Solution: Oliver increases his pension via salary sacrifice to 30% (£24,900/year gross). His adjusted income becomes £83,000 - £24,900 = £58,100. New HICBC = 0% (below £60,000 threshold) = he keeps the full £2,212.60 child benefit! Tax saving + child benefit = worth the higher pension contribution! Net cost analysis: Extra pension contribution = £7,560 - £3,150 (original) = £4,410 gross extra. After tax relief (20%) and NI saving (12%) = £4,410 × 68% = £2,999 net cost. Benefits: £4,410 extra pension + £1,009 child benefit saved + employer match still £3,150 = £8,569 total benefit for £2,999 cost = 186% return!
How to avoid: Calculate your "adjusted net income" = gross salary MINUS pension contributions (including employer contributions if via salary sacrifice) MINUS Gift Aid donations MINUS some other deductions. Use HMRC's calculator (www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-calculator) with different pension contribution scenarios. Identify the pension amount needed to drop below £80,000 (avoid 100% charge), £70,000 (pay only 50%), or £60,000 (pay 0%). Note: from April 2024, HICBC starts at £60,000 (not £50,000). Consider: are you comfortable with that much going into pension (remember it's locked until age 55-57)? Can you afford the reduced take-home pay? Is the HICBC saving + tax relief + pension boost worth it? For most people earning £50,000-£70,000 with children, the answer is a resounding YES - the tax efficiency is incredible!
Not Claiming For 16-20 Year Olds In Education - A-Levels, Apprenticeships, College Qualifies Until Age 20, Many Parents Stop At 16 Losing £881-£1,331/Year × 4 Years = £3,524-£5,324 Per Child
The mistake: Child benefit doesn't stop at age 16! It continues until age 20 if your child is in approved education or training (A-levels, Scottish Highers, BTECs, T-levels, NVQs up to level 3, apprenticeships, traineeships, etc.). Many parents assume "child benefit is only for children under 16" and stop claiming when their child finishes GCSEs or turns 16. This costs £881-£1,331/year for each child in education aged 16-20. Over a typical 2-4 year period (A-levels, college courses, apprenticeships), that's £1,762-£5,324 lost per child! Even worse, some parents DO know about the 16-20 extension but think "my child is doing an apprenticeship and earning money, so they don't qualify." WRONG! Apprenticeships ARE approved training - you still get child benefit regardless of the apprentice's earnings!
Real-world impact: Mohammed has three children: eldest is 17 doing A-levels (qualifies), middle is 15 (qualifies), youngest is 12 (qualifies). Child benefit should be: £25.60/week (eldest) + £16.95 (middle) + £16.95 (youngest) = £59.50/week = £3,094/year. Mohammed mistakenly thinks child benefit stops at 16, so when his eldest turned 16 last year, he notified HMRC that his eldest left education (even though the child started A-levels!). Mohammed now only claims for two children = £25.60 + £16.95 = £42.55/week = £2,212.60/year. He's losing £25.60/week (eldest child rate) = £1,331.20/year. If his eldest does A-levels for 2 years, total loss = £2,662.40! When his middle child turns 16 next year and if Mohammed makes the same mistake, he'll lose another £16.95/week (additional child rate) = £881.40/year for 2-4 years = £1,762.80-£3,525.60 more!
How to avoid: Don't stop claiming when your child turns 16! Check if they're in approved education or training: A-levels, Scottish Highers, T-levels, BTECs, NVQs level 1-3, apprenticeships (any level), traineeships, college courses (non-advanced), and similar qualifications. The child must be in full-time education (12+ hours/week of supervised study) or approved training. You DON'T need to notify HMRC when your child turns 16 if they're continuing in education - the claim just carries on automatically! You ONLY need to notify HMRC when your child actually LEAVES education/training (finishes A-levels and doesn't continue, leaves apprenticeship, drops out of college, starts university degree). Download form CH297 (Child Benefit 16-19 extension form) if HMRC queries the claim - your child's school/college can complete this to confirm they're in approved education. Keep claiming until they turn 20 or leave approved education, whichever comes first!
GOV.UK Child Benefit
What it is: Official HMRC child benefit guidance - claim online, check current rates, eligibility checker, manage your claim.
Best for: Making new claims, checking 2025/26 rates (£25.60/week eldest, £16.95/week additional), understanding qualifying children (under 16 or under 20 in approved education), managing payment preferences, notifying changes.
Key features: Online claim takes 20 minutes, payments every 4 weeks, can elect not to receive payments (keep NI credits), download forms CH2 (claim), CH297 (16-19 extension).
Website: www.gov.uk/child-benefit
HMRC High Income Child Benefit Charge Calculator
What it is: Official HICBC calculator - check if you need to repay child benefit, calculate exact charge amount based on income.
Best for: Understanding HICBC (applies if you or partner earn over £60,000 from April 2024), calculating charge percentage (1% per £200 between £60,000–£80,000, 100% at £80,000+), checking adjusted net income (gross minus pension contributions).
Key features: Shows exact repayment amount, explains Self Assessment requirements, compares different income scenarios, helps plan pension contributions to reduce charge.
Website: www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-calculator
MoneyHelper Child Benefit Guide
What it is: Free impartial guidance from government-backed MoneyHelper service - child benefit advice, NI credit protection, family finance planning.
Best for: Understanding National Insurance credit protection (worth £5,000-£50,000 state pension over retirement), deciding whether to claim if high earner, comparing child benefit vs other family benefits, planning finances with children.
Key features: Plain-English explanations, real-life examples, state pension impact calculator, guidance on "claim but don't receive payments" strategy for high earners.
Website: www.moneyhelper.org.uk
Turn2us Benefits Calculator
What it is: Comprehensive UK benefits calculator - check child benefit entitlement, calculate total family benefits, identify what you can claim.
Best for: Checking if you qualify for child benefit (yes if you have qualifying child under 16 or under 20 in education), seeing how child benefit interacts with Universal Credit/Tax Credits (child benefit NOT means-tested, doesn't reduce other benefits), finding other family support.
Key features: Full household benefits calculation, shows child benefit + UC child element + Tax-Free Childcare + other family benefits, identifies unclaimed entitlements, free grants database.
Website: www.turn2us.org.uk/benefit-guides/child-benefit
Citizens Advice Child Benefit
What it is: Free expert help from UK's largest advice charity - child benefit claims, HICBC disputes, appealing decisions, understanding rules.
Best for: Help with complex situations (guardianship, fostering, kinship care, separated families), HICBC disputes (wrong income used, incorrect penalty charges), challenging decisions, face-to-face advice at local Citizens Advice offices.
Key features: Free advice (online, phone, in-person), help filling forms, support with HMRC disputes, guidance on 16-20 education extensions, understanding two-child limit exemptions (for UC/Tax Credits, not child benefit).
Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/looking-after-children/financial-support-for-children/child-benefit
Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG)
What it is: Expert tax guidance for low-middle income families - HICBC optimization, pension contribution strategies, tax-efficient claiming.
Best for: Understanding adjusted net income calculation (gross minus pension minus Gift Aid minus certain reliefs), optimizing pension contributions to reduce HICBC (stay below £80,000 or ideally £60,000), salary sacrifice strategies, Self Assessment guidance for HICBC repayment.
Key features: Detailed HICBC guides with worked examples, tax planning strategies, pension vs HICBC trade-offs, salary sacrifice advice, Gift Aid impact on adjusted income.
Website: www.litrg.org.uk
About Our Child Benefit Calculator — Expert Author
Written by Mustafa Bilgic, benefits and tax specialist at UK Calculator with 12+ years of experience in HMRC child benefit rules, HICBC planning, and UK family finance. Our guidance and UK child benefit calculator are created by financial planning specialists with over 40 years of combined experience in UK family benefits. Our expert team includes qualified welfare benefits advisers, former HMRC Child Benefit specialists who processed thousands of claims during their careers, and family finance experts who have helped over 12,000 UK families optimize child benefit claims, navigate the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC), and protect National Insurance credits for state pension.
We stay current with all HMRC child benefit policy changes, HICBC threshold updates, and NI credit regulations to ensure our calculator reflects the latest 2025/26 rates (£25.60/week eldest child, £16.95/week additional children, £60,000–£80,000 HICBC taper (changed April 2024), 100% repayment at £80,000+). Our content is regularly reviewed against official GOV.UK guidance, HMRC technical manuals, and MoneyHelper resources to maintain accuracy and reliability for UK families.
Last updated: 20 February 2026 | Next review: August 2026 (2025/26 rate announcement)
Expert Reviewed — This calculator is reviewed by our team of financial experts and updated regularly with the latest UK tax rates and regulations. Last verified: February 2026.
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Official Sources
How to Use This Child Benefit Calculator
- Enter the number of children — Include all qualifying children under 16 (or under 20 if in approved education or training).
- Enter your or your partner’s income — This is needed to check whether the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) applies to your household.
- Select the tax year 2025/26 — The calculator uses the latest HMRC rates effective from April 2025.
- View your weekly and annual benefit amounts — The results show the eldest-child rate and additional-child rate broken down clearly.
- Check if HICBC applies — If the higher earner in the household has adjusted net income over £60,000, a tax charge claws back some or all of the benefit.
Worked Examples: Child Benefit 2025/26
Example 1: Family with 2 Children, Income Below £60,000
- Eldest child: £26.05 per week
- Second child: £17.25 per week
- Total weekly benefit: £43.30
- Annual benefit: £2,251.60
- HICBC: None — income is below the £60,000 threshold.
Example 2: Family with 3 Children, Income Below £60,000
- Eldest child: £26.05 per week
- Second child: £17.25 per week
- Third child: £17.25 per week
- Total weekly benefit: £60.55
- Annual benefit: £3,148.60
- HICBC: None — income is below the £60,000 threshold.
Example 3: 1 Child, Parent Earns £70,000
- Weekly benefit: £26.05
- Annual benefit: £1,354.60
- HICBC applies: 1% of the benefit is clawed back for every £200 of income above £60,000.
- Income over threshold: £70,000 − £60,000 = £10,000 → £10,000 ÷ £200 = 50 → 50% clawed back.
- Tax charge: 50% × £1,354.60 = £677.30
- Net benefit after HICBC: £677.30 per year
Example 4: 2 Children, Parent Earns £80,000+
- Weekly benefit: £43.30 (£26.05 + £17.25)
- Annual benefit: £2,251.60
- Income is £80,000 or more — that is £20,000+ over the £60,000 threshold, which means 100% clawback.
- Tax charge equals the full benefit: £2,251.60
- Net benefit: £0
- Important: It is still worth claiming Child Benefit even at 100% clawback. The claiming parent receives National Insurance credits towards their State Pension, which can be worth thousands of pounds over a lifetime.
Sources & Methodology
- GOV.UK – Child Benefit overview: www.gov.uk/child-benefit
- GOV.UK – High Income Child Benefit Charge: www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-charge
- 2025/26 weekly rates: Eldest or only child £26.05; each additional child £17.25.
- HICBC threshold: £60,000 adjusted net income (raised from £50,000 in April 2024). The charge tapers at 1% of the benefit for every £200 above £60,000, reaching 100% at £80,000.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates based on published HMRC rates and thresholds for the 2025/26 tax year. Results are for general guidance only and do not constitute financial or tax advice. Individual circumstances vary — please consult HMRC or a qualified tax adviser for decisions affecting your finances.
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