Another child benefit thread...I am daft, help!

[Childbenefittwit]

Sorry, not sure if this is where to put this but I've spent most of the afternoon on phone to child benefit and self assessment and cannot get a clear steer. Gov website is an unacknowledged portal to hell. DH earns c£67k before any deductions. He is in a pension scheme contributing 12.5%. (Have just looked at his P60 and if I'm reading it right then his taxable pay was approx £58k last year if that's helpful.) He isn't due an increment for another couple of years. Is it worthwhile me claiming the money component of child benefit?? (I know to 'claim' for the credits and for my children's NI etc.) Tried to phone child benefit for advice and they said it's 'a personal decision'...but how can it be if I have no idea how it works, what I'd receive Vs what I'd actually be owed, and what my DH would have to repay via self assessment (as a PAYE employee he hasn't done this before). Tried and failed to do the calculator online; I think they make it complicated (at least for daft people like me!) so they give up. So please mumsnetters, don't let me give up...Can anyone help?

I had to repay part of mine- very easy self cert form completed in the October, input the details from the p60 and he will get an amount owed at the end which he can pay via a debit card by the end of January. Worth claiming as you’d still get say 200quid from that taxable income. My advice is to keep the money aside though if you wish to use it to repay back the amount owed and then save or spend the remainder once the years payment is made.

yes claim as you will get something

Yes, claim. You are entitled to 20%
of the full benefit.

Thank you I really appreciate your replies @OnlyFoolsnMothers @yoyy . I felt it was worthwhile I think it's just the confusion of the self assessment that's making me feel a bit cautious and confused. Is it quite easy to set up? I'm just wondering about year deadlines etc. Have we missed the boat there? Obviously it's weird that I'm the child benefit claimant but husband would be doing the tax repayment (tho I guess this must happen in a lot of households where applicable) Does DH need to set up a self assessment account now in anticipation?

Thank you @MeanMrMustardSeed am building quite a consensus here aren't I!

i can help on applying for it. I just know that a friend was in a similar position & didn't have to pay it all back.

Yes he sets up an acc and any questions hmrc are surprisingly helpful on the phone

cant help even!

Think the first year I missed the registering deadline, called up and explained and they set it up for me:

www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-charge/pay-the-charge

You're all superstars thank you xx

DH is self employed. We claim and they deduct when it's assessment time. His income varies from year to year so the amount they take varies too. Saves us reapplying all the time!

If your DH contributes more to his pension he will pay back less of the child benefit. Something to at least consider.

Most people earning that sort of level have costs eg professional membership fees they can claim tax relief on anyway so its a good idea just to claim and do the return.