Child Benefit Calculator

Child Benefit is paid at a fixed weekly rate for each child - £27.05 for the eldest or only child and £17.90 for every child after that - regardless of income. What changes with income is the High Income Child Benefit Charge, a separate tax charge that can claw some or all of it back.

The £60,000 to £80,000 taper

The charge is worked out on the higher earner's adjusted net income. Below £60,000 there is no charge. Between £60,000 and £80,000 the charge is 1% of the year's Child Benefit for every £200 of income over £60,000, so it climbs in even steps and reaches 100% at £80,000. It is collected from the higher earner through Self Assessment or an adjustment to their tax code, not taken out of the Child Benefit payment itself.

Why adjusted net income matters

Adjusted net income is income after gross pension contributions and Gift Aid. Paying more into a pension lowers it, which is why someone earning £65,000 can often bring themselves back below the £60,000 threshold and keep the full payment. Our Adjusted Net Income Calculator works that figure out.

Claiming even when the charge is 100%

If the charge would take everything back, you can still submit a claim and opt out of receiving payments. That keeps the National Insurance credits that protect the State Pension of a parent who is not working or is earning below the threshold, and means the child is issued a National Insurance number automatically.