This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament

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Petition Increase High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold and base on household income

We want the Government to reform the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) by increasing the income threshold for this charge to take into account inflation since 2013, and make it apply to household income, not individual income.

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Due to the Government’s policy of not increasing the threshold for HICBC, this charge now affects 1 in 5 families, raising over £1 billion each year for HMRC.

We believe the way the charge works is outdated and does not take into account inflation since 2013 or household incomes. Inflation means that the current £50,000 threshold is no longer a high income, and basing the charge on individual, rather than household income, means some households liable for the charge have lower incomes than households that do not have to pay the charge.

This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months

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Government responded

This response was given on 18 December 2023

The HICBC targets Child Benefit expenditure, meaning that the Government can support the majority of families whilst ensuring the fiscal position remains sustainable.

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The Government aims to manage the public finances in a disciplined and responsible way in order to protect our vital public services. The HICBC targets Child Benefit expenditure, meaning that the Government can support the majority of families whilst ensuring the fiscal position remains sustainable. Indeed, in 2020-2021 (the latest year that data is available), 99.7% of those liable for the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) paid income tax at the higher rate or above, and 88% of Child Benefit claimants were unaffected by the HICBC.

The HICBC is calculated on an individual rather than a household basis, in line with other tax policy. Basing the HICBC on household income would require all of the 7.7 million households currently registered for Child Benefit to regularly report income data, for HMRC to verify household income and ensure compliance with the charge. This would complicate the process for the majority of Child Benefit claimants who are not liable to the HICBC. The Government therefore considers that the current approach remains proportionate, as it only requires a proportion of individuals to complete a Self Assessment tax return, whilst leaving the majority of claimants unaffected.

As with all other tax policy, the Government will keep the HICBC under review. Improvements to the HICBC have been announced as part of the Government's commitment to a simpler and fairer tax system. On 28 April, the Government announced that steps will be taken to allow parents to receive a National Insurance credit retrospectively. This will ensure that parents who were eligible to claim Child Benefit but who chose not to are able to protect their future State Pension entitlement, reaffirming the Government's commitment to supporting all parents.

Similarly, on 18 July, the Government announced that steps will be taken to enable employed individuals to pay HICBC through their tax code, without the need to register for Self Assessment. This will make the process of paying HICBC easier for individuals who become liable for the charge.

HM Treasury

Government confirms increase of the High Income Child Benefit Charge

On Wednesday 6 March, the Government announced that it is increasing the income threshold for paying the High Income Child Benefit Charge.

The High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold will increase to from £50,000 to £60,000 from 6 April 2024. If your income exceeds £80,000, the charge is equal to the amount of the Child Benefit payment. The increase was announced as part of the Spring Budget.

Currently the High Income Child Benefit Charge is based on individual income, but the Government has said that it is committed to moving to a system based on household rather than individual incomes by April 2026, and will consult on this in due course.

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