High Income Child Benefit - Help please!!

[alypee]

I'm really hoping someone can shed even a bit of light before I tear my hair out.

I'm trying to complete a self assessment return for the first time as we are liable for the High Income Child Benefit Tax.

(I apologise massively in advance for my complete ignorance on everything tax related)

DH earns between £50,000 and £60,000. We applied for Child Benefit in Nov 2011 and they backpaid us 3 months.

For the period between Nov 2011 and then end of the tax year we were paid £423 in Child Benefit, so was expecting to pay back a little over half of that, which I have kept aside. I have spent the last two weeks trying to complete the self assessment (which has been a nightmare in itself) and having completed it it says we owe them £523!! How can we own more than we were given?!

We dont have this to pay and the panic is making me feel physically sick constantly.

Does anyone have any clue what I may have done wrong?

I tried calling HMRC today, was on hold for 40mins only to be told that they could only speak to my husband. He's a teacher so is never going to be able to ring himself and the phone line isnt open weekends. Gahhhhh.

Thanks so much @Passthewinebottle !

I’ve made a similar mistake to OP Meant from September 22! Sigh…

DH earns 55k so technically we should be able to claim CB and keep part of it. But it’s too complicated and stressful to do self assessment, and we’re scared if we get it wrong we’ll get in trouble. So we don’t claim. Perhaps this is the result they’re hoping for with this stupid system.

If you don't claim it and don't work, you could end up with gaps in your National Insurance record and a lower state pension.

More and more people are reaching the higher income bracket and are getting caught out with the repayment and fines. This income limit has not been changed for 10 years, if it is was in line with inflation it should be around 65k. This petition is worth signing! HICB tax charge petition