Precis

Child Benefit Calculator

Works out your Child Benefit and any High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC), 2026/27 rates.

  • 2026/27 tax year
  • Instant results
  • Private: runs in your browser
  • Free, no sign-up
The High Income Child Benefit Charge is based on whichever parent earns more, not household income — a couple each earning £55,000 pays no charge, but one earner on £65,000 does. Pension contributions and Gift Aid reduce adjusted net income and can bring you back under the threshold.
Child Benefit you keep
£0
per year
Child Benefit (before charge)£0
HICBC clawback£0
Net kept£0
Effective clawback rate0%

How does the High Income Child Benefit Charge work?

Child Benefit for 2026/27 pays £27.05 a week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 a week for each additional child — worth £1,406.60 and £930.80 a year respectively. If the higher-earning parent's adjusted net income goes above £60,000, a tax charge claws some of it back: 1% of the Child Benefit for every £200 of income above £60,000, until it's fully repaid at £80,000. It's still worth claiming even above £80,000, because the claim protects the claiming parent's National Insurance credits towards their State Pension. Your income here can also be checked against the National Insurance Calculator and Take-Home Pay Calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Is the charge based on my income or household income?

It's based on the higher earner's individual income, not the combined household total. Two parents each earning £58,000 (£116,000 household) pay nothing; one earner on £65,000 with a non-earning partner does.

Should I still claim if I'll lose all of it to the charge?

Usually yes — claiming (even if you opt out of the payments) gives the claiming parent National Insurance credits for every week, which count towards a full State Pension. This matters most for a parent who isn't working or earning below the NI threshold.

How do pension contributions help?

Contributions to a workplace pension via salary sacrifice, or the grossed-up value of a relief-at-source pension contribution, reduce your adjusted net income. Bringing it back under £60,000 removes the charge entirely.

Related searches

Take-Home PayUK income tax + National Insurance on your salary, broken down by band. National InsuranceEmployee and self-employed Class 4 rates, 2026/27. Pension CalculatorProject your pension pot using 2026/27 auto-enrolment rules.