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Original poster

Shit! Child benefit

26 replies

Rowenaravenclawsdiadem · 12/04/2018 22:37

I have 3 dc and 1 step dc. I earn £15k per year.

Dp earns £54k per year.

I've hugely fucked up. We have lived together just over 2 years. I thought his salary and pension contributions were basically approx £50k they aren't, clearly. He got his p60 through yesterday and, he basically got a bonus at Christmas which obviously I knew about but didn't think. I don't know why. Clearly I'm a moron.

What do I do about the child benefit? Would they accept a payment plan. Or do I just opt out and hope for the best.

Anyone know how this works?

OP posts:
twinone · 12/04/2018 22:39

Is it not claimed back via your husband's tax contribution?
I opted out, so not overly sure.

How many years do you think you per?

twinone · 12/04/2018 22:39

Owe!

Original poster
Rowenaravenclawsdiadem · 12/04/2018 22:43

I think I owe from the last tax year. So 2016-2017. They are my dc though not his.

OP posts:
MrsBertBibby · 12/04/2018 22:57

You don't owe anything.

It's his job to report this and pay tax, not yours.

Original poster
Rowenaravenclawsdiadem · 12/04/2018 23:04

I've been claiming it for my dc though. I've just continued to claim. He hasn't really been involved. It was only that I got a form through asking what I was going to do when my dc left school that it actually triggered the thought process when I saw his p60.

OP posts:
prh47bridge · 12/04/2018 23:16

It is fine for you to claim. You aren't doing anything wrong. As MrsBertBibby says, he needs to report it and pay tax.

IWantMyHatBack · 12/04/2018 23:25

He'll owe it in next year's tax return. If he's on £54k gross, and pays pension contributions then it'll only be a smallish amount to pay back anyway. 4k over the threshold means you pay back 40%, but it should be less than that.

You haven't fucked up, there's months to fill out a tax return. Oh, and it is your DP that will need to register for self assessment and complete the return.

italiancortado · 12/04/2018 23:28

Phone and tell them. They will sort it out.

Original poster
Rowenaravenclawsdiadem · 12/04/2018 23:32

He contributes £150 a month to his pension. So does that come off before tax. He is asleep I'm up worrying and going through stuff!

OP posts:
italiancortado · 12/04/2018 23:35

You have a household income of over just under £70k. Surely you can afford to pay this back without worry?

ineedaholidaynow · 12/04/2018 23:37

I claim child benefit and DH has to state on his tax return that it is claimed and he then pays tax on it. It is his responsibility. If I was the higher earner it would be my responsibility.

IWantMyHatBack · 12/04/2018 23:37

The absolute maximum due back for 2016-2017 will be 40% of your child benefit. Just save it for the rest of the year, and pay the tax bill then. Stop worrying, it's not a big deal.

IWantMyHatBack · 12/04/2018 23:37

Sorry, 2017-2018

justanothercreditissue · 12/04/2018 23:38

What a ridiculous comment Italian. You have no idea what the op's financial commitments are.

AJPTaylor · 12/04/2018 23:39

Dont stop claiming. There is an online calculator on the gov website.

Original poster
Rowenaravenclawsdiadem · 12/04/2018 23:39

No he pays child maintenance even though one of his dc lives with us full time and my ex lives abroad so I don't receive any help. He has huge commuting costs etc. We have a very small amount of spare income and 5 dc between us.

OP posts:
IWantMyHatBack · 12/04/2018 23:40

Pension contributions come off gross salary, yes. If he's paying £1800 a year on pensions, that should reduce it.

btw that's very low for his salary, I earn £11k a year, and I still pay £90 per month into my pension scheme.

Pcat · 12/04/2018 23:41

This happened to me. There has been an adjustment to my tax code so they are claiming the excess paid in extra tax over a year or two rather than a lump sum....... I havent really noticed the difference to be honest.

IWantMyHatBack · 12/04/2018 23:41

You do know that you only pay back 10% back, per £1000 earned over the £50k threshold?

Original poster
Rowenaravenclawsdiadem · 12/04/2018 23:42

At the moment it's the most he can afford the company match it though.

I've fallen down an internet rabbit hole will call them in the morning.

OP posts:
Perfectly1mperfect · 12/04/2018 23:42

italiancortado

Do you know the OP's outgoings? Thought not. 🙄

OP. Try not to worry. They are usually good at just taking what's owed out of earnings monthly so hopefully it won't impact you too much. It can be sorted so don't panic.

In future you can either opt out of receiving it or keep claiming and pay back through tax. Call them and they will advise.

Original poster
Rowenaravenclawsdiadem · 12/04/2018 23:44

It's so frustrating on paper we earn good money but seem to struggle every month. We have no 'luxuries' never go out, on holiday etc just seem to be running to stand still the whole time.

OP posts:
italiancortado · 12/04/2018 23:45

Oh fgs of course I don't. But that's a hefty income regardless.

This isn't a huge amount of money we are talking about in relation to salary.

IWantMyHatBack · 12/04/2018 23:46

Save half of your child benefit from now until December, and that should cover the tax bill. That's it. Seriously, stop worrying.

ilovewine · 12/04/2018 23:50

This might help -

www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-calculator/main