Form CH2 is the paper claim form for Child Benefit. It is for people who cannot claim online, because HMRC expects most claims to be made online or through the HMRC app. You fill it in, add the CH2(CS) form if you are claiming for more than two children, and post it to the Child Benefit Office at the address printed on the form.
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What is form CH2?
CH2 is HMRC’s Child Benefit claim form. Child Benefit is paid to someone responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training. The form, its claim notes and the additional child form were last updated on gov.uk on 6 April 2026.
The form asks for details about you, your partner if you have one, each child you are claiming for, how you want to be paid and your bank account, and it ends with a declaration you sign. It also has a section for higher income earners that deals with the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
Should I use CH2 or claim online?
gov.uk says to use the CH2 forms if you cannot claim Child Benefit online. HMRC’s own manual lists the ways to claim as online, using the free HMRC app or on gov.uk, by phone to the Child Benefit Office, or by completing a CH2. If you cannot claim online or by post, you can contact HMRC to claim by phone.
Whichever route you use, HMRC says a separate claim must be made for each child, and the form has space for two children. For a third or later child, fill in CH2(CS) and send it with your CH2.
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When should I claim?
You can claim Child Benefit 48 hours after you have registered the birth of your child. You can also claim when a child comes to live with you. Do not wait too long: Child Benefit can be backdated for up to 3 months from the date you make the claim, so a late claim can cost you money.
A claim is treated as made on the day HMRC receives a completed CH2. If you do not have the birth or adoption certificate yet, you can still claim, though it may take longer.
What do I need before I start?
- Your child’s birth or adoption certificate, if you have it.
- Your bank or building society details.
- Your National Insurance number, if you have one.
- Your partner’s National Insurance number, if you have a partner.
If the birth was registered outside the UK, you must send the original certificate and your child’s passport or travel document. HMRC says documents you send will usually be returned in 4 weeks.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form code | CH2, plus CH2(CS) for more than two children |
| Who uses it | Anyone claiming Child Benefit who cannot claim online |
| How to file | Post to the Child Benefit Office (address on the form) |
| When to claim | From 48 hours after the birth is registered |
| Backdating | Up to 3 months |
| Rates 2026 to 2027 | £27.05 a week eldest or only child, £17.90 each other child |
| Tax charge | High Income Child Benefit Charge above £60,000 adjusted net income |
| Online alternative | gov.uk claim service or the HMRC app |
How much Child Benefit will I get?
From 6 April 2026 the rates are £27.05 a week for the eldest or only child and £17.90 a week for each additional child. HMRC gives these as £1,406.60 and £930.80 a year. Payments are usually made every 4 weeks into a bank account.
What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge?
The High Income Child Benefit Charge is a tax charge that claws back some or all of the Child Benefit where you or your partner has adjusted net income over £60,000, for tax years from 2024 to 2025 onwards. The charge is 1% of the Child Benefit for every £200 of income over £60,000. If income is over £80,000, the charge equals all the Child Benefit received. If both partners are over the threshold, the partner with the higher income pays.
Adjusted net income includes savings interest and dividends and is reduced by certain reliefs such as pension contributions and Gift Aid. Our guide to adjusted net income explains the calculation. The charge can be paid through PAYE or Self Assessment, but you must use Self Assessment if you need to send a tax return for another reason. See paying the charge through PAYE and registering for Self Assessment.
Illustration only. Jo and Sam have two children. Jo’s adjusted net income is £70,000 and Sam’s is £30,000. Their Child Benefit for a full year at 2026 to 2027 rates is £1,406.60 plus £930.80, which is £2,337.40. Jo is £10,000 over the £60,000 threshold, which is 50 lots of £200, so the charge is 50% of the Child Benefit, or £1,168.70. Jo pays the charge because Jo has the higher income. The family still keeps the other half of the Child Benefit.
Should I still claim if I earn over £80,000?
Usually yes, even if you then choose not to be paid. You can opt out of getting payments and stay registered for Child Benefit, which means you do not receive payments and do not pay the charge. Staying registered still gives you National Insurance credits that count towards your State Pension, and it means your child gets a National Insurance number. A parent registered for Child Benefit for a child under 12 gets Class 3 credits automatically, even if they do not receive the payments. Our guides on claiming Child Benefit for National Insurance credits and whether to stop Child Benefit payments look at this choice in more depth.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I send form CH2?
Send it to the Child Benefit Office. gov.uk says the address is on the form, so use the address printed on the version you download.
Do I need to send the birth certificate?
Not always. HMRC says you can still claim without the certificate, though it may take longer. If the birth was registered outside the UK, you must send the original certificate and the child’s passport or travel document.
What if I missed the charge in an earlier year?
If you owed the High Income Child Benefit Charge and did not pay it, our guide to a missed Child Benefit charge sets out the steps.
Can I add a new baby to an existing claim?
Yes. The online service can be used to make a claim or to add another child to an existing claim, and the paper CH2 route remains available if you cannot claim online.
If HMRC opens a check into your return, tax investigation insurance pays your accountant’s fees. Solar Protect cover pays up to £100,000 with no excess; it never pays tax, interest or penalties. Read how our cover works or get a quote.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Claim child benefit if you cannot claim online
- GOV.UK: manual page CBTM02010
- GOV.UK: How to claim
- GOV.UK: Child benefit
- GOV.UK: Millions of families in line for child benefit rate increase
- GOV.UK: Child benefit tax charge
- GOV.UK: Eligibility
Reviewed by Christine Anderson, Broker, Solar Protect. Last reviewed 6 November 2026. Part of Accountapedia, the Solar Protect guide to UK tax and accounting. This page is general information, not personalised advice.