HMRC child benefit crackdown failed to adequately consider impact, report finds
8 reported
A National Audit Office report has found that HM Revenue and Customs failed to adequately consider the impact on claimants when it launched an anti-fraud crackdown that wrongly cut child benefit payments for 23,000 families. The scheme, which suspended payments after flight records from the Home Office purportedly showed parents had emigrated, was suspended at the end of last year after an expose by the Guardian and The Detail. HMRC apologized twice last year and told a House of Commons select committee that 71% of parents targeted were actually eligible for child benefit. The NAO found that HMRC removed pay-as-you-earn checks in the first rollout because it lacked experienced staff and relied on inexperienced workers. HMRC acknowledged weaknesses in oversight, including not appointing a single senior responsible owner for the scheme. A spokesperson for HMRC said the cases opened between August and October 2025 had protected around £60m in taxpayers’ money.
What’s reported
The NAO report found HMRC’s crackdown failed to adequately consider the impact on claimants.
23,000 families had their child benefit stripped.
The scheme was suspended at the end of last year after an expose by the Guardian and The Detail.
HMRC apologized twice last year and told a select committee that 71% of parents targeted were eligible.
PAYE checks were removed in the first rollout because HMRC lacked experienced staff.
HMRC received 22,500 calls from customers between August 2025 and February 2026.
HMRC acknowledged it did not appoint a single senior responsible owner for the scheme.
HMRC said cases opened between August and October 2025 protected around £60m in taxpayers’ money.
Key figures
National Audit Office (NAO)
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
Home Office
Guardian
The Detail
Agnieszka (Polish-British dual national, affected parent)
HMRC spokesperson (unnamed)
Sources: The Guardian
