Been told to pay back child benefit, please help

gb908010

teddysmum wrote: »

Our children are adults, but we know about it. It was widely publicised on tv and in the newspapers.

I don't read newspapers and rarely watch tv, I'll ring them and explain and see what they say.
If I had known about it I would have nipped it in the bud along time ago as I've always updated tax office with items like company cars etc

xylophone

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/jan/03/child-benefit-changes-what-they-mean

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/tax/9781037/Child-benefit-how-to-beat-the-tax.html

http://www.wardwilliams.co.uk/documents/Changes_to_Child_Benefit_1.pdf

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron-hints-at-tax-break-to-halt-child-benefit-revolt-6520886.html

p00hsticks

gb908010 wrote: »

If you don't get sent a letter from hmrc how are you supposed to know about it?

Ignorance is not really an excuse - it's all our responsibility to keep abreast of major changes in legislation that affect us.
It usually only requires making a note of what is announced in the budget and in the Queens speech at the opening of parliament each year.

As others say, this change was pretty well publicised, and you can't expect the government to write individually to everyone potentially affected by every change in legislation.

If you drive a car, you are expected to keep up to date with the latest laws on using mobile phones, wearing seatbelts, carrying children in cars etc

If you expect to draw a state pension in future you need to keep in touch with any changes in state pension age

and if you claim benefits you need to be aware of any changes to the elegibility criteria

TELLIT01

Ignorance is rarely accepted as a defence. I don't have any children and I was aware of the £50k earnings limit on entitlement. It certainly got a lot of publicity at the time it was introduced.

w06

Ignorantia juris non excusat

been specifically tested too:

http://www.rossmartin.co.uk/sme-tax-news/2519-child-benefit-charge-ignorance-of-law-no-excuse

Even I'd heard of this, no kids, avoid politics and financial news mostly