High Income Child Benefit Charge Calculator — 2026/27
Build adjusted net income, compare the higher-earning partner and test an extra relief-at-source pension payment. See Child Benefit kept, the charge before and after, and what is still needed to reach £60,000.
Published by GrowThenDraw Editorial Team · Editorial policy · Methodology & sources
Current relief-at-source pension is grossed to £0.00 and Gift Aid to £0.00.
£4,000.00 more net pension payment
This is the relief-at-source equivalent of the remaining £5,000.00 gross reduction from your after-plan ANI to £60,000. Check relevant earnings, annual allowance and affordability first.
| Scenario | Your ANI | Partner ANI | Relevant ANI | Liable person | Charge % | HICBC | Benefit retained |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before plan | £70,000.00 | £55,000.00 | £70,000.00 | You | 50% | £1,168.00 | £1,169.40 |
| After plan | £65,000.00 | £55,000.00 | £65,000.00 | You | 25% | £584.00 | £1,753.40 |
Understand HICBC and ANI
See the £200 staircase, whole-pound rounding, partner switch and worked two-child example.
Compare pension tax relief
Estimate provider top-up, further relief, take-home cost and the Personal Allowance effect.
Compare salary sacrifice
Estimate current Income Tax, employee NI, employer NI sharing and take-home cost.
Audit pension allowances
Test 2026/27 allowance, taper, MPAA and the three carry-forward years.
The charge uses the higher individual income, not household income
For 2026/27, HICBC starts when either partner's adjusted net income exceeds £60,000. The partner with the higher adjusted net income is responsible for the charge. Two people on £59,000 each can keep the full award, while one person on £70,000 and one with no income can face a partial charge.
The partner input is therefore not cosmetic. If your planned pension payment reduces your income below your partner's, your partner can become the relevant higher earner and the household charge may stop falling. The result calls this out instead of pretending one person's contribution always restores the award.
Adjusted net income is not take-home pay
Start with taxable income before Personal Allowance, including employment income, taxable benefits, self-employment profits, pensions, property income, taxable interest, dividends and other taxable amounts. Then subtract only qualifying adjusted-net-income deductions.
A relief-at-source pension payment and a Gift Aid donation are entered as the cash amount actually paid and grossed up by 1.25. Do not deduct salary sacrifice again if the reduced taxable pay is already the figure on the P60. Trading losses, gross pension payments and uncommon reliefs need source records or professional checking.
Why the charge moves in steps
Between £60,000 and £80,000, the charge is one per cent of the Child Benefit award for every full £200 of adjusted net income above £60,000. The statutory percentage and final charge are rounded down to whole numbers. At £80,000 or more, the charge reaches the full whole-pound award.
The calculator preserves the small pence remainder after that statutory whole-pound charge. HMRC's own assessment and payment records remain authoritative, especially when entitlement covers only part of the year or different children qualify for different periods.
A pension solver is a starting point, not a recommendation
The solver converts the remaining gross income reduction into the net amount that would normally be paid to a relief-at-source pension before basic-rate relief is added. It shows HICBC saved, but it does not calculate the wider Income Tax saving or assume that a contribution is affordable or suitable.
Pension tax relief also depends on relevant UK earnings, and the annual allowance, taper, MPAA, employer input and defined-benefit growth can limit the useful contribution. Use the linked salary-sacrifice and carry-forward tools, then confirm the plan with the pension provider or an adviser before acting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge threshold for 2026/27?
The charge starts above £60,000 of individual adjusted net income. It is one per cent of the Child Benefit award for every full £200 above that point and reaches the full award at £80,000 or more.
Is HICBC based on gross salary or take-home pay?
Neither is always correct. It uses adjusted net income: total taxable income before Personal Allowance, less specific reliefs such as gross pension contributions and grossed-up Gift Aid. Take-home pay after tax and NI is not the measure.
How are relief-at-source pension contributions deducted?
Enter the net amount actually paid. A £4,000 payment is normally grossed up to £5,000 for adjusted-net-income purposes because the provider claims £1,000 of basic-rate relief. Other pension arrangements can appear differently in taxable pay, so avoid deducting the same contribution twice.
Whose income matters when both partners earn over £60,000?
The partner with higher adjusted net income is liable. If a contribution changes which partner is higher, the relevant income can switch. Both individual incomes must be at or below £60,000 for the household to avoid HICBC entirely.
Should I stop Child Benefit payments if the charge is 100%?
Not automatically. GOV.UK explains that a claimant can opt out of payments while preserving the claim. A claim can protect National Insurance credits and help the child receive a National Insurance number. Check the claimant's circumstances before stopping or restarting payments.
Does this calculate the Income Tax and NI saved by a pension contribution?
No. It isolates adjusted net income and HICBC because savings, dividends, Scottish bands, salary sacrifice and pension tax-relief mechanics can change the wider result. Use the connected salary-sacrifice calculator for a payroll comparison and the carry-forward calculator for contribution capacity.
Rules and methodology verified 2026-08-10:
- GOV.UK: High Income Child Benefit Charge thresholds, higher-partner rule and payment choices
- HMRC: adjusted net income and pension/Gift Aid gross-up
- GOV.UK: 2026/27 Child Benefit weekly rates
- Finance Act 2012: percentage and whole-pound rounding
- HMRC PAYE14015: calculation and liability administration
Scope: 2026/27 weekly rates, one common qualifying-week count, up to 20 children, an adjusted-net-income worksheet for one person, optional partner ANI, one planned relief-at-source pension payment, the £60,000–£80,000 charge staircase and statutory rounding.
Excludes Child Benefit entitlement, different qualifying dates by child, relationship start/end dates, permanent separation, upkeep cases, backdating, overseas cases, taxable-income completeness, Income Tax and NI, Scottish bands, relevant earnings, pension annual allowance/taper/MPAA, employer contributions, PAYE coding, Self Assessment duties, National Insurance credits and personalised suitability. Educational estimate only, not tax, pension, benefits or financial advice.