Repay Child Benefit overpayments

You can be paid too much Child Benefit if you do not report a change in your circumstances. You’ll usually have to pay it back.

There’s a different way to pay the High Income Child Benefit Tax Charge.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

If you’ve been paid too much Child Benefit

The Child Benefit Office will write to tell you:

  • you’ve been overpaid
  • what caused the overpayment
  • whether you have to pay the money back
  • how to appeal if you think they’re wrong

If you think you’ve been paid too much Child Benefit contact the Child Benefit Office straight away - do not wait for the Child Benefit Office to write to you.

You could be prosecuted for benefit fraud if you know you’ve been overpaid but do not do anything about it. You could be fined or go to prison if you’re convicted.

Pay back overpayments

You’ll usually have to pay back an overpayment in a lump sum.

You’ll need your Child Benefit overpayment reference. You can find the reference on your letter about overpayments from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

Your reference will be 14 characters long and start with a Y, for example YA123456789123.

You can use the online service to pay:

  • by debit or corporate credit card
  • using your online or mobile bank account

Pay now

Pay online by debit or corporate credit card

There’s a non-refundable fee if you pay by corporate credit or corporate debit card.

There’s no fee if you pay by personal debit card.

You cannot pay by personal credit card.

Approve a payment through your online bank account

You can pay directly using your online or mobile bank account.

When you’re ready to pay, start your Child Benefit repayment. Select the ‘pay by bank account’ option. You’ll then be directed to sign in to your online or mobile banking account to approve your payment.

The payment is usually instant but can take up to 2 hours to show in your bank account.

You’ll need to have your online banking details ready to pay this way.

Pay by bank transfer

A bank transfer payment using online or telephone banking will usually reach HMRC on the same or next day.

You’ll need to put your Child Benefit overpayment reference as the reference number.

HMRC’s account details are:

  • sort code: 08 32 30
  • account number: 11963279
  • account name: HMRC Child Benefit Remittance

Barclays Bank PLC
1 Churchill Place 
London 
United Kingdom 
E14 5HP

If you cannot pay online, or need time to pay

Contact HMRC if:

  • you cannot find your Child Benefit overpayment reference
  • you want to make a card payment over the phone
  • you need further advice on how to pay or you need more time to pay

HMRC
Telephone: 0300 322 9240
Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 5pm
Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges

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