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The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has commented on HMRC's press release Child Benefit Reminder for Higher Income Earners, which said that HMRC require taxpayers to notify them before 28 March 2013 if those taxpayers want to forego entitlement to Child Benefit in 2013/14.

The CIOT thinks this deadline is correct because the first Benefit payment for 2013/14 may be as early as Thursday 28 March - this year it is unusually early because of how Easter falls in the year, although it would generally be 1-7 April and therefore normally before the beginning of the new tax year on 5 April.

The CIOT has suggested that HMRC might want to look at fixing a regular deadline, before the start of the new tax year, in future.

It is worth noting that the HMRC press release is aimed primarily at those earning £60,000 or more - the High Income Child Benefit Charge does apply potentially to anyone earning more than £50,000 but between £50,000 and £60,000, only some of the Child Benefit should be clawed back. HMRC seems therefore to be comfortable with the idea that people should only forego the Benefit if certain that they will have to repay it. (It is perhaps worth mentioning also that the amount of income which 'counts' for the purposes of calculating any restriction in Benefit entitlement is affected by pension or gift aid contributions, which can help to reduce the tax charge).