I am a Husband and Father of 4 children, I have always worked and paid my taxes. I was employed until 2016 and then started my own business where my accountant filed my first self assessment tax return. I was hit with a High Income Child Benefit Charge for 2014/2015 & 2015/2016 totalling £6474.

It transpired that as I earned over £50,000 my wife who was claiming child benefit was not entitled to any of it so they told me I had to pay it back and issued me with penalties and interest charges on the amount.

I looked into this and spoke several times to HMRC who told me it was my responsibility to know that as a family we couldn’t claim Child Benefit if one of us earned over £50,000. I learned though that any couple providing they both earned £49,999 each then they would be entitled to the full child benefit.

So the current rule discriminates against families who’s joint income could potentially be a combined total of £55,000 but wouldn’t be entitled to child benefit if one parent earned £50,000 however a family who earn a combined income of £99,998 where both parents do not earn £50,000 or above are entitled to full child benefit.

The HICB rule should be changed to the combined joint income of £99,998 to make the ruling fair for all families across the UK.