Child benefit

[WotchOotErAPolis]

I am pretty sure I've been overpaid child benefit. Over the previous tax year, I think DH went over the £50K limit, but may not have been for the whole tax year. He has now been made redundant [for the second time in 12 months] so we will qualify for CBen for the next tax year.

Now, given that I have informed the taxman twice now that we don't think we're entitled [the second time they told us not to worry as they already had our names on record], can we now assume that the taxman has looked at our records and is still paying CBen as we DO still qualify, or will they come after us one day soon ask ask for their money back in full [which we can't afford now that DH is not earning]?

What's the deal here?

They'll come for you when you least expect it IME. They aren't very efficient.

You actually have to ask them to stop paying it, not leave it up to them to decide. If he registers to complete a tax return for 2013-14 in due course any overpayment will be calculated for him. If he is borderline it may only be a small amount anyway.

HMRC won't stop paying the CB to you even if you earn over the limit. You will have to opt out yourself if you're over the threshold, or keep claiming it and fill in a self-assessment form and declare it and they will adjust the tax code for the next tax year. Unfortunately it is not a very efficient system and the onus is on you to declare it. I guess if you have been on their records as earning over the threshold, because you have previously self-assessed and declared it, they will send you another self-assessment form for this tax year. Doesn't sound like you'll owe much if anything in any case.

between £50 and £60K you would only pay back a proportion of the child benefit. Did he not register for self assessment and complete a tax return? Only the recipient of the child benefit can cancel the payment so if you didnt tell them to stop paying it then it will continue to be paid to you.