Child Benefit rates and the £60k tax charge
How much you get for each child, and how much of it the higher earner would repay between £60,000.00 and £80,000.00. Always claim, even if the cash comes back to HMRC.
Why high earners still claim: Child Benefit explained. How it sits with Universal Credit: what Universal Credit is. Free childcare is a separate cliff: childcare eligibility.
Common questions
How much is Child Benefit in 2026/27?+
The eldest or only child is £27.05 a week. Each additional child is £17.90. It is usually paid every four weeks.
What is the Child Benefit income threshold?+
The High Income Child Benefit Charge starts when the higher earner's adjusted net income is over £60,000.00. You repay 1% of Child Benefit for every £200 above that, and all of it from £80,000.00. It is not a household-income test.
Should I claim if I will repay everything?+
Yes, usually at the zero rate. Claiming protects National Insurance credits for a parent who is not working or earning under the NI threshold, until the child is 12. Skipping the claim can cost state pension years.