HMRC have admitted that up to 23,500 Child Benefit payments have been stopped incorrectly after increasing complaints they had ceased when there was short absences from the UK, for example, going and returning from a holiday.
In August 2025, the UK Government announced the creation of a new specialist team tasked with saving Child Benefit fraud. The system enables HMRC to compare their records against Home Office international travel data and, generally, if a child is outside the UK for more than eight weeks the parents lose eligibility. These are circumstances that should be reported to HMRC.
On 04 November 2025, the UK Parliament’s Treasury Select Committee wrote to HMRC detailing a number of questions, including how many Child Benefit payments has been stopped as a result of using Home Office international travel data.
As has been reported, HMRC have admitted that up to 23,500 Child Benefit payments have been stopped incorrectly after increasing complaints they had ceased when there was short absences from the UK, for example, going and returning from a holiday. HMRC had identified that these children had emigrated and the first time that this became evident was travel between Northern and Southern Ireland and travel through Dublin Airport.
HMRC have responded:
We’re very sorry to those whose payments have been suspended incorrectly. We have taken immediate action to update the process, giving customers one month to respond before payments are suspended.
For Bookkeepers
Personally and professionally, the issue is how to stop these Child benefit payments being withdrawn. The Gov.UK guidance indicates that there are the following ways to contact HMRC:
- Write to HMRC’s Child Benefit Office in Newcastle (postcode NE88 1AA);
- Use HMRC’s digital assistant;
- Use HMRC’s app; or
- Telephone HMRC on 0300 200 3100
Note that agents may be able to get general advice but they must be authorised to discuss a claim.
