Child Benefit Application

Hi all

Recently received a self assessment form for child benefit to check on total income. Does anyone know the rules/situation wrt the following:

AIUI, pension payments can be grossed up and the resulting value deducted from your income. What's the rider concerning "government approved schemes" about? My pensions are Scottish Equitable personal type, paid out of my nett income. How do I know if these are government approved (I believed they must be!)

Also there are two thresholds involved 50K and 78K. The initial assessment is to check whether your total household income exceeds 50K. If it does, what are the implications on the child benefit - does the benefit reduce in proportion to the amount you exceed 50K?

Before anyone suggests calling the advertised number, this has been tried. The numpty on the other end seemed less clued up than I!

TIA

Phil

Reply to
TheScullster
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You mean Child Tax Credit. Child benefit isn't means tested.

Yes.

If you get tax relief on them. Which you will, almost certainly.

You sure it wasn't 50K and 75K?

I assume you just get the family element of about 545 (or more if you have a baby).

If so:

If last year's earnings were over 50K, your initial assessment for this year will be reduced by 6.67% of the amount your income exceeded

50K. Over 58K takes it to nil, or 66K if you have a baby. Your final assessment for last year will be OK - what you got.

If last year's earnings were over 75K, your final assessment for

*last* year will be reduced by 6.67% of the amount your last year's income exceeded 75K (so you'll have to pay some back). Your initial assessment for this year will be nil.

The biggest numpties are those who designed the stupid system. Fortunately their days look numbered....

Reply to
Andy Pandy

"Andy Pandy" wrote

Shows how interested I am in the whole assessment process!

Shows how interested I am in the whole assessment process!

Yes, that sounds right.

Our total household income last year, and this, has been artificially boosted by a 2 part bonus. This takes the gross income over the 50k. Once all pension contributions are grossed up and deducted and other un-earned income is taken into account we drop below the 50k threshold. As a result we intend to do nothing.

My concern now is that, having made the telephone contact we will be targeted for further investigation!

Tell me about it.

Many thanks for the clarification Andy

Phil

Reply to
TheScullster

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