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:

  • approve a payment through your online bank account
  • pay by debit or corporate credit card

Pay now

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 Direct Debit

Contact HMRC to set up a Direct Debit over the phone. Set up your Direct Debit at least 5 working days before your payment is due. The payments will show on your bank statement as ‘HMRC NDDS’.

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.

HMRC will accept your payment on the date you make it (even on bank holidays and weekends) - not the date it reaches HMRC’s account.

Pay by bank transfer

You can make a bank transfer using Faster Payments, CHAPS (Clearing House Automated Payment System) or Bacs (Bankers Automated Clearing System):

  • from your online bank account
  • by phoning your bank

Payments made by Faster Payments (online or telephone banking) will usually reach HMRC on the same or next day, including weekends and bank holidays.

CHAPS payments usually reach HMRC the same working day if you pay within your bank’s processing times.

Bacs payments usually take 3 working days.

Check your bank’s processing times and maximum transaction limits before you pay.

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 set up a Direct Debit or 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
Overseas: +44 300 322 9240
Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 5pm
Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
Find out about call charges

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