Child Benefit Clanger - been wrongly receiving for years!

moneyspendy · 17 May 2020 at 5:14PM

Hello all
We have realised that we have been receiving CM for a couple of years when I'm pretty sure we shouldn't have. I know this may sound far-fetched to many folks on here who are very money-savvy but it has been a genuine error and I fully expect to have to pay it back. My question is really around the process and whether I should do anything before contacting the appropriate folks - I believe some people in our situation have also been fined but that if you 'self-declare' in this way you may avoid a fine. Is there any truth to this? Also, I assume the CM people will calculate the repayment amount, but do they have a reputation for getting this calculation right or should I be closely checking it?!? I am guessing it is a fairly cut and dried case - we have both been PAYE earners since the legislation change in, what 2014?, with no complicated savings or pensions set up. Thanks for any advice.