Higher Earner Child Benefit Charge

sheramber

Lisame wrote: »

So unfair when you are totally unaware of something. As you said if we had been notified of this in 2013 I would have been more that happy for child benefit payments to stop. How can you act on something you are completely unaware of! We have had a letter today!

Are you aware of the speed limit applied to different roads?

Are you aware that a car may need an MOT?

Did anyone send you a letter telling you these things?

brednall

To be honest, back in 2013 my husband was not earning 50k. It's only gone over tgat in the last 2 tax years so back then, we probably would have thought tgat didn't apply to us.

He contacted HMRC straight away and they said as long as he informs them of progress with tax returns etc, that is fine. He had to wait for confirmation of pay from his HR department and now we have to wait for a gateway code to compete his online return.

brednall

sheramber wrote: »

Are you aware of the speed limit applied to different roads?

Are you aware that a car may need an MOT?

Did anyone send you a letter telling you these things?

A little harsh on the comments here I think

unholyangel

brednall wrote: »

To be honest, back in 2013 my husband was not earning 50k. It's only gone over tgat in the last 2 tax years so back then, we probably would have thought tgat didn't apply to us.

He contacted HMRC straight away and they said as long as he informs them of progress with tax returns etc, that is fine. He had to wait for confirmation of pay from his HR department and now we have to wait for a gateway code to compete his online return.

I would always advise anyone receiving these types of letter to be as honest and forthcoming as they can. Typically they already know (or have reasonable suspicion) about it, its not a letter they send randomly. Cooperate and be honest and they're more likely to see it as an honest mistake and waive any penalties.

Also, fwiw....I don't see anything wrong with sherambers comment. I think they were just highlighting that its never usually seen as a defence to not comply with the law because you weren't aware of what it is. Sometimes its easy to misconstrue intentions in the written word as you can't see their facial expressions or hear the infliction or their tone!

Val111

Are you serious, everything you have described above was always in place, so not really a serious argument??

Val111

Sorry this was directed to the comments regarding car tax, mot etc, like ppl are consistently saying had we been informed would you have Claimed to received it??? Of course not!!! Once again how can it take HMRC 6 years to send a letter and say, oh guess what you’ve been claiming something you were not entitled too, despite the fact that you actually weren’t working but your husband was supporting the whole household, but never mind had yous both been earning £49K each then that would be okay, seriously??? Check the news articles ppl, we have following receiving this letter earlier this week, ppl are holding HMRC to task and are coming out triumphant ��

Pennywise

Val111 wrote: »

Sorry this was directed to the comments regarding car tax, mot etc, like ppl are consistently saying had we been informed would you have Claimed to received it??? Of course not!!! Once again how can it take HMRC 6 years to send a letter and say, oh guess what you’ve been claiming something you were not entitled too, despite the fact that you actually weren’t working but your husband was supporting the whole household, but never mind had yous both been earning £49K each then that would be okay, seriously??? Check the news articles ppl, we have following receiving this letter earlier this week, ppl are holding HMRC to task and are coming out triumphant ��

Yes, it's all been a fiasco - that started with the Libdems announcing it as a "back of the fag packet" idea at their annual conference, so it was brought in without the proper due diligence, hence the perceived unfairness. (A warning as to how things may be if Libdems got any kind of power again!).

BUT, if anything, that caused even more media coverage due to the outrage re the 2 versus 1 income anomaly - it was on the news, included in documentaries, mentioned in day time TV shows, Loose Women, Lorraine, etc etc.

And why do you refer to "6 years ago" when you yourself said your OH only started earning over £50k just 2 years ago. In your case, HMRC have actually been pretty quick to highlight to you the problem if he's only been liable to repay the CB for the last 2 years - that's well within reasonable time limits.

As for notifications etc. Did the govt write to every smoker to tell them they couldn't smoke in shops, offices, pubs anymore? Did they write to every driver when seatbelts became compulsory or to tell them how to use Smart motorways? No -there is a responsibility on the individual to keep themselves aware of changes in society - it's all over the media and of course, we all have mini computers in our pockets with access to the kinds of news/information that previous generations couldn't even have dreamt of.

cloud_dog

Pennywise wrote: »

Yes, it's all been a fiasco - that started with the Libdems announcing it as a "back of the fag packet" idea at their annual conference, so it was brought in without the proper due diligence, hence the perceived unfairness. (A warning as to how things may be if Libdems got any kind of power again!).

Let's be clear, this was a Tory cluster ****.

xylophone

I had no vested interest (not being a CB recipient) but I wrote to my MP in 2013 concerning the unfairness of the anomaly to which reference is made above - it is difficult to know how anybody missed the news concerning the matter as it caused such heated discussion in papers and on TV at the time.

See link in post 25 here for a recent briefing paper https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76488903#Comment_76488903

Jami74

Val111 wrote: »

the only correspondent we have received rehashing child benefit was when they wrote to tell me I would no longer receive a payment for my oldest child who had left high school to go to college.

Those who are entitled to child benefit still receive post-sixteen if their child continues in 'full time' education. It can be updated online.

Val111 wrote: »

Unfortunately for us his earning were over the 60K

:rotfl: Hope I'm one day in the unfortunate position of earning, or being married to someone who earns £60k

Val111 wrote: »

Why were people not informed of this charge by child benefit system or HMRC 6 years ago when it was apparently enforced??

I tend to avoid the news, but this information and the debate around it was everywhere at the time.

Val111 wrote: »

Why would he file a tax return when he’s employed and pays tax through PAYE??

To inform HMRC of any pension contributions or gift aid or any other reasons why he might not have to pay all the child benefit back.