HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is advising thousands of families across the UK to follow a specific calling window to resolve queries about the High Income Child Benefit Charge. The tax authority has highlighted that its phone lines are typically less busy between 8am and 9am, Monday to Friday.
What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge?
The charge applies to individuals who claim Child Benefit and have an individual income exceeding certain limits. For the current tax year, the charge begins if either you or your partner's income is above £60,000 annually.
The repayment mechanism works on a sliding scale. For every £200 earned above the £60,000 threshold, you must repay 1% of your Child Benefit entitlement. This means the entire benefit amount is reclaimed by the government once an individual's income reaches £80,000 or more.
Financial Impact on Households
Child Benefit is currently paid at a rate of £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child, and £17.25 per week for each subsequent child. For a family with two children, being required to repay the full charge would mean an annual amount of just over £2,250.
Repayment can be handled in two primary ways: through an adjustment to your tax code via PAYE or by completing a self-assessment tax return, depending on your circumstances.
Why the 8am to 9am Rule Was Advised
The guidance emerged after a customer reported difficulties on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The individual stated they had tried to pay the charge through PAYE but encountered an error, and subsequent attempts to call HMRC resulted in being on hold for "almost an hour without success".
In its response, HMRC confirmed its phone lines are open from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, and explicitly recommended the first hour of operation as the optimal time to make contact for faster service.
