HMRC has confirmed a major change to Child Benefit that will take effect from mid-July 2026. The government's tax arm announced it is 'making it easier for customers who are liable to pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) to complete their return accurately.'
Pre-Populated Data for 300,000 Customers
From mid-July 2026, around 300,000 Self Assessment customers will have their or their partner’s Child Benefit payment information pre‑populated on their online Self Assessment tax return. This change aims to make the process faster and more accurate, reducing the risk of errors.
Payments on Account Deadline Approaching
The update comes with one month to go until the second Payments on Account deadline on 31 July. Customers can set up monthly or weekly payment plans, and any payments already made via these plans will count towards their next Self Assessment tax bill.
HMRC Official Statement
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said: 'We know managing a Self Assessment tax bill isn’t always straightforward and we are here to help. From paying instantly via the HMRC app to spreading the cost through a payment plan, there’s support available for every customer.'
Understanding Payments on Account
Payments on account are payments towards a customer’s next Self Assessment tax bill. They help spread the cost of the tax owed by making payments in two instalments. Each payment is half of the tax the customer owed last year. These payments are due by midnight on 31 January and 31 July. Payments on account instalments can be paid before a customer has filed their Self Assessment tax return.
Key Deadlines for 2025-2026 Tax Year
The deadline for submitting tax returns and paying any remaining tax owed for the 2025 to 2026 tax year is 31 January 2027. Filing early means that customers know how much tax they owe sooner, HMRC has reminded claimants. A wide range of online help and support is available on the government website to help people fill in and file their tax return.
