Child Benefit and the high income charge

How much Child Benefit you keep if one of you earns over £60,000.

Your details

Your result

Child Benefit you keep£1,169
  • You keep50%£1,169
  • Repaid through the charge50%£1,169
Child Benefit a year£2,337
Charge50% of your benefit
Pension to avoid the charge£10,000
Assumptions and limits

Rates for 2026/27: £27.05 a week for the eldest child and £17.90 for each other child. The charge is 1% for every £200 of the higher earner’s adjusted net income over £60,000, reaching 100% at £80,000. Keep claiming even if you opt out of payments, to protect National Insurance credits.

Sources: Child Benefit rates · High Income Child Benefit ChargeTax year 2026/27

Common questions

Should I claim if I earn over £80,000?

Usually yes. You can opt out of the payments but still claim, which protects National Insurance credits for a parent who isn’t working and gets your child a National Insurance number automatically.

Whose income counts?

The higher earner’s own adjusted net income. Your incomes aren’t added together.

How can I reduce the charge?

Pension contributions and Gift Aid donations reduce adjusted net income, which can lower or remove the charge.

How we calculate

Every calculator uses the published 2026/27 rates from one shared set of rules, so when a rate changes, it changes everywhere.

Where rates come from

Tax, National Insurance, student loan, benefit and property tax rates come from GOV.UK. Each calculator links to its sources.

What we don’t cover

Scottish income tax bands, tax codes other than 1257L, benefits in kind and your personal circumstances. Results are estimates to help you plan, not a payslip or advice.