Child Benefit Calculator
Estimate your annual Child Benefit and any High-Income Child Benefit Charge for 2025/26. Threshold rose from £50k to £60k in April 2024.
Your situation
HICBC charge on Self Assessment
If you or your partner earn over £60k, the High-Income Child Benefit Charge is paid via Self Assessment. We file from £79.
What is Child Benefit?
Child Benefit is paid to parents/carers of UK-resident children under 16 (or under 20 if in approved education). 2025/26 rates:
- £26.05/week for the eldest/only child
- £17.25/week for each subsequent child
The benefit itself is tax-free. But the High-Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) claws it back if you or your partner earn over £60k.
How HICBC clawback works
The threshold rose from £50k to £60k in April 2024. Above £60k, you pay back 1% of the Child Benefit for every £200 you earn over £60,000. Fully clawed back at £80,000.
| Higher earner's income | HICBC clawback |
|---|---|
| Under £60,000 | 0% — keep all Child Benefit |
| £60,000 – £80,000 | Sliding 0% – 100% |
| £80,000+ | 100% — fully repaid |
Charge is paid via Self Assessment by whichever partner has the higher income (regardless of who claims the benefit).
Should you still claim?
Even if you'll lose all of it via HICBC, register for Child Benefit. It banks NI credits toward state pension for the parent staying at home — worth ~£300/year of state pension entitlement.
You can choose not to receive the payments while still being registered. This avoids the SA filing requirement.
Reduce HICBC legitimately
- Pension contributions reduce adjusted net income (the figure used for HICBC) — and get higher-rate relief at the same time
- Salary sacrifice for childcare vouchers, cycle-to-work etc.
- Charity donations via Gift Aid grossed up
- Income-shift to lower-earning spouse via shared assets / dividend splits
What this calculator does and doesn't do
- £26.05/week for the eldest child, £17.25 each subsequent (2025/26)
- HICBC clawback: 1% of Child Benefit per £200 above £60,000 adjusted net income
- Fully repaid by £80,000 income
- Even if fully clawed back, register for Child Benefit — it banks NI credits toward state pension
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