High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC)
If either parent earns over £60,000, you lose some or all of your Child Benefit through a tax charge.
How It Works
- • Based on the higher earner's individual income (not household)
- • Lose 1% of benefit for every £200 earned over £60,000
- • At £80,000 you lose 100% - the full amount is clawed back
- • You must file a Self Assessment tax return to pay it back
- • A couple earning £59,000 each (£118,000 total) pays nothing. One earner at £65,000 loses 25%.
Examples
| Income | % Lost | Clawback (2 children) | Net Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| £55,000 | 0% | £0 | £2,252/yr |
| £65,000 | 25% | £563 | £1,689/yr |
| £70,000 | 50% | £1,126 | £1,126/yr |
| £80,000+ | 100% | £2,252 | £0 |
Still claim. Always.
Even at 100% clawback, claiming gives the non-working parent National Insurance credits for State Pension. This is worth ~£6,800 over your children's childhood. Free money you lose by not claiming.
Your Details
£
HICBC applies if over £60,000
Weekly
£43.30
Monthly
£187.63
Annual
£2,252
Always claim - even if you pay it back
A non-working parent who claims Child Benefit gets National Insurance credits towards their State Pension. This is worth approximately £6,800 over 16 years. Even if HICBC claws back 100% of the cash, the pension credits alone make it worth claiming.
Current Rates (2026)
| Eldest/only child | £26.05/week (£1,354.60/year) |
| Each additional child | £17.25/week (£897.00/year) |
| HICBC threshold | £60,000 individual income |
| Full clawback at | £80,000 |