Child Benefit on a £78,000 Salary

On a £78,000 salary in the 2025/26 tax year, Child Benefit for 2 children is £2,251.60 per year. The HICBC charge is £2,026.44, leaving net benefit of £225.16 per year (£18.76 per month).

On a £78,000 salary in the 2025/26 tax year, the High Income Child Benefit Charge claws back 90% of your Child Benefit. For two children, you receive £2,251.60 but pay back £2,026.44 as HICBC, keeping £225.16 per year (10% of the full amount). That works out to £18.76 per month.

HICBC breakdown at £78,000

The table below shows your Child Benefit, HICBC charge, and net benefit at £78,000 for different numbers of children.

Children	Annual benefit	HICBC charge	Net benefit	Monthly net
1	£1,354.60	£1,219.14	£135.46	£11.29
2	£2,251.60	£2,026.44	£225.16	£18.76
3	£3,148.60	£2,833.74	£314.86	£26.24

At £78,000, the HICBC claws back 90.0% of your benefit. For every £200 of income above £60,000, you lose 1% of your Child Benefit.

How to reduce the HICBC on £78,000

The most effective way to eliminate the HICBC is salary sacrifice into a workplace pension. On a £78,000 salary, sacrificing £18,000 into your pension brings your adjusted net income to £60,000 — below the HICBC threshold.

This means you keep the full £2,251.60 of Child Benefit for 2 children, while also saving income tax and National Insurance on the sacrificed amount. Use the salary sacrifice calculator to see the full impact. See also your full tax breakdown on £78,000.

Other ways to reduce your adjusted net income for HICBC purposes:

• Personal pension contributions — relief at source reduces adjusted net income
• Gift Aid donations — grossed up amount is deducted from income
• Trading losses — can be set against employment income
• Employment expenses — allowable expenses reduce adjusted net income

Compare Child Benefit at nearby salaries

• £73,000: HICBC claws back 65% — keep £788.06 (2 children)
• £76,000: HICBC claws back 80% — keep £450.32 (2 children)
• £80,000: HICBC claws back 100% — keep £0.00 (2 children)
• £83,000: HICBC claws back 100% — keep £0.00 (2 children)

Related calculations for £78,000

• Salary breakdown for £78,000 — see your full take-home pay, tax bands, and NI
• Pension tax relief calculator — see how pension contributions reduce your tax bill
• Salary sacrifice calculator — reduce your income below the HICBC threshold
• National Insurance on £78,000 — employee and employer NI breakdown

Frequently asked questions

How much Child Benefit do I keep on a £78,000 salary?

On a £78,000 salary with 2 children, HICBC claws back 90% of your £2,251.60 benefit. You keep £225.16 per year (£18.76 per month).

What is the HICBC threshold in 2025/26?

The HICBC threshold is £60,000 of adjusted net income. The charge tapers from £60,000 to £80,000, with full clawback at £80,000. This threshold was raised from £50,000 in April 2024.

Should I still claim Child Benefit on £78,000?

Yes. You still receive a net benefit of £225.16 for 2 children. Plus, claiming protects your NI record for State Pension purposes.

How much do I need to salary sacrifice to avoid HICBC on £78,000?

You need to sacrifice £18,000 into your pension to bring your adjusted net income to £60,000. This eliminates the HICBC entirely, and you also save income tax and National Insurance on the sacrificed amount. Use the salary sacrifice calculator for a full breakdown.