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Child Benefits in the UK

  • Posted 11th September 2015

Child Benefits in the UK

Child Benefits are paid to every family with children in the UK. This means if you have a child, you are entitled to claim a Child Benefit for a child under 16. Whether you or your partner have an individual income over £50,000 per year, you have to pay extra tax for receiving the full amount of Child Benefit. However, you and your partner have an income below the £50,000 limit; you will receive the full amount of Child Benefit without paying any extra tax. If you do not like the idea of paying any extra tax, you have the option of the not receiving any Child Benefit. Still, it is beneficial for you to fill in the claim because it will help you get National Insurance credits that will add up to your State Pension. In addition, it will also ensure your child is automatically issued with a National Insurance number when they are 16 years old. If you like to continue getting Child Benefit, you'll have to fill in a self-assessment tax return and pay the extra tax which is known as the High Income Child Benefit Charge. You can pay a tax charge either as a lump sum through self-assessment or your tax code under pay as you earn (PAYE). Such benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks into your bank account. However, money can’t be paid into Child Trust Fund accounts, children’s accounts, joint accounts, business accounts, mortgage accounts, and credit card accounts. For claiming this benefit, you need to fill in the Child Benefit claim form CH2 and send it along with your child’s original birth or adoption certificate to the Child Benefit Office. Even if you don’t have those certificates at the moment, you should still send your claim form. In case if you have already claimed such benefits before and are making a new claim for the same child, you don’t need the birth or adoption certificate.  

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