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← Calculators/Tax year 2026/27·Last reviewed

High income child benefit charge (HICBC) calculator

Your household High Income Child Benefit Charge from the claimant's and their partner's individual adjusted net incomes — plus the Child Benefit you keep, and where it disappears.

Free, no sign-up. Runs the same engine and versioned tax-year config as the signed-in suite — the pension and bond calculation workbench UK paraplanners use to produce compliance-annex PDFs. Your calculator figures stay in this browser unless you choose to share or rerun them in the signed-in workbench. How we verify the numbers.

— In short

From 2024/25 onward, the High Income Child Benefit Charge starts when the claimant or their partner has adjusted net income over £60,000. It reaches 100% at £80,000, increasing by 1% for every £200 over the lower limit. Through 2023/24 the corresponding limits were £50,000 and £60,000, with 1% charged for every £100. The higher-ANI person is liable; if both ANI figures are equal, the Child Benefit claimant is liable. Eligible taxpayers can pay through PAYE or Self Assessment.

Enter each parent's individual ANI — the calculator uses the higher figure, not combined income.

Enter the partner's individual ANI, including £0 where that is the known figure.

High Income Child Benefit Charge

£905.00

38% of your Child Benefit clawed back

You are liable on the ANI and claimant basis entered · ANI used for the charge £67,600.00

Child Benefit used
£2,382.35
Benefit weeks in this tax year
53
High Income Child Benefit Charge
£905.00
Child Benefit you keep
£1,477.35
Charge starts at
£60,000.00
Full clawback at
£80,000.00

Assumes a full-year award over 53 entitlement weeks. Enter the actual award for a part-year claim or opt-out. The relationship basis selected above must cover every benefit week; use HMRC’s date-based calculator if it changed. The charge can be paid through PAYE or Self Assessment, depending on timing and circumstances.

A pension contribution that brings your adjusted net income below £80,000.00 reduces the charge, and below £60,000.00 removes it entirely — see the tax trap calculator.

ITEPA 2003 s.681B–681H · HMRC PAYE130030

For planning and illustration purposes only. Verify all inputs against source documents. This tool does not constitute financial or tax advice.

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This dedicated tool calculates HICBC from adjusted net income and the actual or full-year Child Benefit award; there is no signed-in HICBC workbench yet.

— How it's calculated

How the charge is worked out

Compare the claimant’s and their partner’s individual adjusted net incomes and use the higher one — do not combine them. From 2024/25 onward the charge rises by 1% for every full £200 above £60,000 and reaches 100% at £80,000. Through 2023/24 it rose by 1% for every £100 above £50,000 and reached 100% at £60,000. The award is rounded down to whole pounds before the percentage is applied. The quick tool can use either a full-year estimate or the actual award for a part-year claim, opt-out or entitlement change. Its relationship basis must apply throughout every benefit week; use HMRC’s calculator with actual dates if that relationship changed.

ITEPA 2003 s.681B–681H · HMRC PAYE130030 · gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-charge

How a pension contribution reduces it

The charge is assessed on adjusted net income, which a gross pension contribution reduces £1 for £1. For 2024/25 onward, bringing the liable person’s ANI below £80,000 reduces the charge and below £60,000 removes it; through 2023/24 the equivalent limits were £60,000 and £50,000. A contribution by the lower-ANI person cannot reduce a charge driven by their partner. The Tax Trap calculator prices the chosen target.

ITA 2007 s.58 (adjusted net income) · FA 2004 s.188–192 (pension relief)

How to work out the High Income Child Benefit Charge

  1. Step 1

    Confirm the relationship and claimant

    Identify the Child Benefit claimant and whether they had no partner or the same spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner throughout every benefit week. Use HMRC’s date-based calculator if the relationship changed.

  2. Step 2

    Find the liable adjusted net income

    Use the higher individual ANI, not combined household income. If both figures are equal, use the claimant. Subtract the selected year’s lower limit (£60,000 from 2024/25; £50,000 through 2023/24).

  3. Step 3

    Convert to a percentage

    Divide the excess by the selected year’s step (£200 from 2024/25; £100 through 2023/24) and round down. Cap the result at 100%.

  4. Step 4

    Apply it to the Child Benefit

    Multiply the year’s Child Benefit by that percentage to get the charge.

— Worked example

Adjusted net income £67,600 · 2 children · 2026/27 tax year
Annual Child Benefit (2 children)
£2,382.35
Income over the £60,000 lower limit
£7,600
Charge percentage (£7,600 ÷ £200)
38%
High Income Child Benefit Charge
£905.00
Child Benefit you keep
£1,477.35

Computed live by the same engine the tool above runs. The charge is 1% of your Child Benefit for every £200 of adjusted net income over £60,000, reaching 100% at £80,000.

— Frequently asked questions

At what income does the High Income Child Benefit Charge start?

From 2024/25 onward it starts above £60,000 and reaches 100% at £80,000, increasing by 1% for every £200. Through 2023/24 it started above £50,000 and reached 100% at £60,000, increasing by 1% for every £100.

How much is the charge between the limits?

For 2024/25 onward, every £200 of ANI over £60,000 claws back 1% of the year’s Child Benefit, so £70,000 gives 50%. Through 2023/24, every £100 over £50,000 gave 1%.

Can a pension contribution remove the charge?

A gross pension contribution reduces that person’s adjusted net income £1 for £1. For 2024/25 onward, bringing the liable person below £80,000 reduces the charge and below £60,000 removes it; through 2023/24 the corresponding limits were £60,000 and £50,000. It cannot reduce a charge still driven by their partner’s ANI.

Whose income counts for the charge?

Compare the Child Benefit claimant’s ANI with their spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner’s ANI for each benefit week. The person with the higher individual ANI is liable; if the figures are equal, the claimant is liable. Do not add the incomes together. Use HMRC’s calculator with the actual dates if the relationship changed.

— Related

— When you're ready

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