High income child benefit confusion

[myotheraccountsa]

Hi, hoping someone knows this as v stressed. I did call HMRC but after waiting on the line nearly an hour, had to stop as I was in back to back meetings.

I've had a letter from them saying should I be paying back child benefit to avoid a charge.

I got a payrise from the start of this year which did tip me into the higher band. BUT DH is already higher band so has been declaring and paying back our child benefit for years via his salary. I assumed that covers us since we are one joint household.

Is that incorrect now though and because I'm the woman it now has to come from MY pay, not his, now that I'm also higher band? Seems sexist if so, but I just want to be doing it right. Also if it makes any difference at all, my oldest child isn't DH's (although he v much counts him as his), so I don't know if that impacts anything - but DH has always declared the full amount I'm pretty sure for both children.

So the question is: are we already covered by DH's declaration, or does it now need to switch to me?

Yes if he is paying the charge already that’s fine, it’s paid by the higher earner so it’s probably just their systems not talking to each other. Just double check your DH actually is paying back the correct amount and let HMRC know.

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

Sorry, to be clear - I do now earn more than DH but he is in the higher band too which is why he's been claiming it for years. So the highest paid person pays it, even if one of you was already paying it? And can you be fined / have to pay back for the wrong person out of the couple paying it, even if you were paying it?

Ah I see sorry then yes it should be you paying it as you are the higher earner.

In reality I doubt HMRC would issue fines etc for the wrong person paying the charge if they’ve not lost out, but not really worth running the risk imo. It’s an admin headache for you apart from anything if they were to pick up on it!

Higher earner pays it, so if you are now the higher earner and they have been paying it through PAYE, they will need to notify HMRC to get tax code changed and presumably a refund. You would then need to submit for self assessment or ask HMRC to start taking it via PAYE. If they pay by self assessment, as it isn't due until 9 months after the tax year ends there should be no refund due. If you only became the higher earner at the start of 2025 you will have missed the self assessment deadline in September, if you don't already do one, so could be fined. You have until end of Jan 26 to pay the amount owed. If you mean the pay rise was at the start of the tax year, you should be ok fine wise as the assessment wouldn't be due yet.

Higher earner must pay it. I was fined for this!

Whoever is the highest earner needs to pay any money back.

I suppose it only matters if you're getting money you're not entitled to and don't pay it back.

Has DH needed to pay back all of it or just some and does your payrise change things?

If not, I'd leave it be but if you're now entitled to nothing it would seem easier to cancel the claim, but if you're still entitled to some and you earn more, the amount repaid will need to be based on your salary as it will be more.

But this seems like something that should be doable online or in the app, so shouldn't need a phone call.