HMRC pauses child benefit crackdown after 23,500 families caught up in data error

HMRC has apologised for suspending thousands of child benefit payments after faulty travel data was used in checks. Photograph: Kirsty O’Connor/PA

The UK tax authorities have announced they will no longer cut off parents’ child benefit payments after a new crackdown on overseas fraud backfired due to incomplete Home Office travel data.

The flawed data led to HMRC suspending 23,500 payments in recent weeks, including for many families who had simply gone on holiday without the Home Office recording their return.