HICBC is Greater Than Amount Received by Child Benefit

flexibledemeanour

Can anyone explain why my High Income Child Benefit Charge is more (£249 more) than the Child Benefit I actually received in 24/25?

I have just completed my self-assessment tax return and HICBC is the only reason I need to file.

• In 24/25 I received £1,331 in child benefit.
• I'm a high earner (£80,000+) so expect to pay back 100%
• However, HMRC have calculated I owe £1,580
• I stopped claiming child benefit in March 2025 (last month of the tax year)

I've phoned HMRC twice to ask them to explain the calculation but all I've been told is that 'it is correct and that that's just how it's been calculated'. 

I'm happy to pay what I owe but I don't understand why I'm having to pay back more than 100% in HICBC. Anyone got any ideas?

sheramber

Do you meran you did not receive any child benefit for March 25?

Do Child Benefit not report how much has been paid to HMRC?

wolvoman

Self assessment isn’t just for the Child Benefit charge. It could be related to PAYE.
Did you declare all bank interest and dividends?

Besides which, there’s a tax calculation that goes with the tax return which will show you where the tax is coming from.

flexibledemeanour

I received my last child benefit payment in March 25.
It all got paid into my bank account so I expect HMRC have full visibility/knowledge of what I received in 24/25.

Woodstok2000

Is the £1580 definitely 100% for the hibc? No other possible tax additions?

sheramber

flexibledemeanour said:

I received my last child benefit payment in March 25.
It all got paid into my bank account so I expect HMRC have full visibility/knowledge of what I received in 24/25.

HMRC do not have access to your bank account

How much did you get every 4 weeks?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

flexibledemeanour said:

Can anyone explain why my High Income Child Benefit Charge is more (£249 more) than the Child Benefit I actually received in 24/25?

I have just completed my self-assessment tax return and HICBC is the only reason I need to file.

• In 24/25 I received £1,331 in child benefit.
• I'm a high earner (£80,000+) so expect to pay back 100%
• However, HMRC have calculated I owe £1,580
• I stopped claiming child benefit in March 2025 (last month of the tax year)

I've phoned HMRC twice to ask them to explain the calculation but all I've been told is that 'it is correct and that that's just how it's been calculated'. 

I'm happy to pay what I owe but I don't understand why I'm having to pay back more than 100% in HICBC. Anyone got any ideas?

Do you actually mean the High Income Child Benefit Charge is £1,580 or is your Self Assessment liability, of which HICBC is one element, £1,580?

This should be quite clear from your Self Assessment calculation.

Yamor

I'd hazard a guess that the difference is due to OP having claimed the marriage allowance when they weren't entitled to it 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Yamor said:

I'd hazard a guess that the difference is due to OP having claimed the marriage allowance when they weren't entitled to it 

Possibly.  Although the tax owed in that situation is typically ~£504.

TimeLord1

The best thing is to double-check your statements. You mentioned the claim stopping; did you check the actual dates to confirm that?

sheramber

If the OP has one child then 52X 25. 60 =
1331.20.   

OP. Is 1580 detailed as the child benefit charge or is that the amount of tax underpaid? 

If  you copy your tax calculation , redacting any personal information, here and someone may be able to clarify it for you.