On this page:
Who can apply for tax free childcare
Search for providers who accept tax free childcare
Can you claim for other funding at the same time?
Universal credit for childcare
Tax credits for childcare
Support while you study
If you and your partner (if you have one) work full or part-time hours, you could get Tax-Free Childcare. You can claim for children up to 12 years old, or up to 17 if they have a disability.
If you don't work, you could still be eligible if you get either one of these:
- Employment and support allowance (ESA): this used to be called Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)
- Carer's Allowance
Maternity, paternity or adoption leave
You can't apply for a child you're on maternity, paternity or adoption leave for, unless you're starting or re-starting work within the next 31 days. If you have other eligible children, you could apply or continue to claim for them while you're on parental leave for another child.
Tax-Free Childcare is replacing Childcare Vouchers which is no longer available for new applicants.
You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours funded childcare if you're eligible for both.
Check your eligibility on the GOV.UK Tax-Free Childcare page.
What you will get with Tax-Free Childcare
When you apply for Tax-Free Childcare you'll set up an online childcare account. For every £8 you pay into the account, the government will add £2, or £4 for children with a disability. The government will pay up to £2,000 per child per year, or £4,000 per year for children with a disability.
You will use this account to pay your childcare provider.
How and when to apply for Tax-Free Childcare
You can apply for Tax-Free Childcare any time you think you could be eligible.
You can also apply if you're not eligible because you're not working, but are due to start work within the next 31 days.
Reconfirm your eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare
You must reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months if you're claiming Tax-Free Childcare. You must do this 3 months from the date you applied, even if you haven't started using your account.
When your Tax-Free Childcare starts
You start receiving Tax-Free Childcare once you:
- Meet the eligibility criteria
- Have children under 12 years old, or under 17 years old if they have a disability
- Have set up your account.
You can still set up an account to start saving, even if you haven't started using childcare yet.
What types of childcare you can use with Tax-Free Childcare funding
You can only use the Tax-Free Childcare to pay for registered or approved childcare providers. This includes:
- Registered childminders, nurseries and pre-schools
- Registered after-school clubs and playschemes
- Registered schools
- Home care workers working for a registered home care agency
- Nannies who join the voluntary register
Using Tax-Free Childcare when a relative looks after your child
You can only pay a relative who provides your childcare from your Tax-Free Childcare account if they're:
- A registered or approved childcare provider
- Caring for your child away from your home
A relative means the child's:
- Grandparent
- Aunt or uncle
- Brother or sister
Find out which funding schemes work best for your family with the online childcare calculator.
Search our FYI Directory to find childcare providers and ask them if they are signed up to accept Tax-Free Childcare payments
You can claim other funding schemes at the same time as claiming Tax-Free Childcare if you're eligible, including:
You can't use Tax-Free Childcare with:
Find out which funding schemes work best for your family with the online childcare calculator.
You may be able to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit.
If you already claim tax credits, you can add an extra amount of Working Tax Credit to help cover the cost of childcare.
Both of the following must apply:
Help with childcare while you study