Abolish High Income Child Benefit Charge....

[Mewli]

Because it is an ill thought of tax. Any tax that is signed into law must at least be broadly fair. If the Government could not be asked to design a law appropriately then they shouldn't collect this tax. The HMRC taxes those families with a single person earning £50,000 and above, but leaves families with couples earning £49,999 each . I feel this tax was allowed to pass because it was just easier to convince the electorate that these "rich people"(earning £50,000 and above should pay more ) instead of designing an appropriate tax.

CB is nice to have for many but not needed. I feel it's ridiculously outdated tbh. Why would a couple on 90k need it anyway? It's just small change when you earn that much I'm sure.

DH and I are combined about 60k with him being close to the cut off and my p/t wage paying for frills. We don't NEED the CB and currently I put it in savings for DS anyway.

I agree it should be a fairer system but feel the cut off should be much lower.

Most other countries you have to submit a tax return personally. I was quite surprised here you didn't need to.

A couple on 90 combined pay a lot less tax than a single salary of 90k. Ditto a couple on a combined salary of 60 compared to a single salary of 60(5k difference).

It's hugely unfair and ridiculous.

I think it is awful, I have two children, once has cancer and needs looking after. My wife is caring for him and restricted to going and getting a well paid job. My company car takes me to over £56k. We live with a bit of support and my salary and still I have to part pay it back. There should be some exceptions or it should be done in family income. I just see this as totally unfair. What can be done about this?

We could just abolish the whole thing. Easier, no admin and no parent treated different than any other.

If we need to subsidise children, just say build it into a tax code like the married persons allowance.

Yanbu

My dp earns over the threshold when he does overtime we loss it completely and I'm on minimum wage but pay zero tax. Both of us work full time.

It's bonkers that I'm deemed poor enough not to pay any tax but not poor enough to keep my child benefit. Yet our neighbors earn more than us collectively and way more than me individually and get to keep the lot regardless.

Lose

I think it needs to be debated in parliament as it has been unfair for long and the limits have not moved considering inflation has moved. I think if we raise something on the have site it may get debated. Just will need votes or petition.

I realise this thread is rather old but if anyone is still following it, you may be interested in signing a petition asking the government to make the tax system much fairer for families:

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/216429

We are one of the couples that earn under the threshold each so we get the benefit. Why shouldn't we? We pay a fortune in tax and NI and it's nice to have something back. I agree the current system seems unfair but I shan't be refusing to claim it. It's up to the government to change the rules and until then that money is ours to claim.

It is weirdly constructed and I’d be interested to see the data re how much it has saved versus admin costs of processing tax returns for the 50-60k earners.

We aren’t eligible so haven’t claimed but I didn’t realise national insurance numbers for children were tied to it. We haven’t filled in the form- do we need to just for that?

If somebody has an income of around £50k a year they're fairly well paid. If their partner chooses not to work that's an individual choice. I don't think we should be subsidises high earners to have a SAHM at their beck and call.

Any tax that is signed into law must at least be broadly fair.

What a quaint idea ...

taking away your free money when you have lots of money is not a tax of any kind

@RhurbabAndCustard, of course you should claim the benefits you are entitled to, it is up to the government to make the tax system fair and support families. It's not the responsibility of the individuals.

@Viviennemary, an income of £50k is a good salary for a single person but it is just average for a couple, and if there are any dependents such as children or elderly people depending on that income, then the family starts to slide into poverty, especially in London where the cost of living is so high. You have to understand that there are many situations where only one parent has income, many times childcare is too expensive, for example. Having a SAHP should not be a luxury as it benefits society as a whole. It should be valued and supported at all income levels. Also, this afects couples with very different income levels.

If there were extra tax breaks for SAHP's then single parents would think that was unfair too. And I'd agree with this. So I think the present system is the most fair because it gives people a choice of whether they work or not. And people can get an evening or weekend job to fit in with their partner's hours. I know a few people who have done this. And they usually don't earn enough to pay tax so it's a good short term solution. IMHO.

Yes, single parents should receive even more support! The point is to support people having children, because children are the future and the most vulnerable individuals. Placing the highest tax burden on families (whether they have one parent or both) is unfair and short sighted and the income tax should be based on the total household income and on how many people depend on that income

It’s a scandal. Families who have been targeted by the Conservative government need to write letters to their MPs. You are not rich if you take home £3,400 per month. Rent £1500, utility bills £600, car and petrol £600 and food per month £400. How we are so rich!!!! Now if my family take home £6,230 per month I am not rich and I can claim the much needed child benefit. Hard working families are being punished. Child benefit tax needs to be on household income NOT single earners. Please fight this.

It is a VERY UNFAIR TAX. Take home £3,400 per month no child benefit you are too rich. Take home £6,230 per month you are too poor take home child benefit!!! This is only beneficial for families who have 2 parents earning above the average salary or with own businesses who can split their wage with their stay at home or lower income partner.

@PurpleWren I agree, it should be household income. I disagree with your assertion that £3600 doesn’t make you “rich”. Well, I don’t think you are rich but it is a very decent income. You have £300 per month extra after rent, food, bills and transport - you have no idea how lucky you are? Perhaps leave your personal outgoings out of your complaint!

Why should the tax payer pay child benefit for families who take home £6,240 per month!!!!! #household income tax not the individual.

This is not based on my outgoings Schuyler. I am trying to make a point. You should not get child benefit if you take home £6,240 per month whilst someone taking home £3,400 is a lot worse off.

Easier just to scrap it and use the money to increase the amount given to schools per pupil. Easy and cheaper to admin, spending is monitored to ensure value for money and may stop a few having children that they can't actually afford.

The current system is unfair. Why reward those that claim state support and penalise the children whose parents don't take tax payers money.

I agree it's wrong. DH and I earn each less than £50k but not far off and we can, and do, claim child benefit.

It should be a household income of £50k as the cut off

The way it is structured discriminates against lone parents. It is grossly unfair.