Tax Free Childcare Calculator
Estimate your monthly and annual government top-up for childcare costs. Get up to £2,000 per child per year, or £4,000 for disabled children.
Estimate Your Childcare Top-Up
Enter your average monthly childcare costs, number of children, and income to instantly see how much government support you could receive.
Top-Up Estimator
Calculate your potential Tax Free Childcare savings.
How it Works
Understanding the government top-up
Open an Account
Apply online via the government’s Childcare Choices website to open a Tax Free Childcare account.
Pay In
Deposit money into your account to pay your registered childcare provider.
Get the Top-Up
For every £8 you pay in, the government adds £2, up to the annual maximum limits per child.
Check Eligibility
Ensure both parents meet the minimum income requirement and neither exceeds the £100,000 threshold.
Maximum Allowances & Eligibility
A general overview of the current maximum government top-ups and basic eligibility criteria for the scheme.
| Category | Max Top-Up (Every 3 Months) | Max Top-Up (Per Year) | Max Qualifying Spend/Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Child | £500 | £2,000 | £833.33 |
| Disabled Child | £1,000 | £4,000 | £1,666.66 |
| Minimum Income | ~£18,396/year (equiv. to 16 hrs/week at National Living Wage) | ||
| Maximum Income | £100,000 adjusted net income per parent | ||
Childcare Support FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about the UK Tax Free Childcare scheme, eligibility, and application.
For every £8 you pay into your online childcare account, the government will add £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year. This is equivalent to a 20% top-up on your childcare costs. For disabled children, the government adds up to £4,000 per year.
To be eligible, you (and your partner, if you have one) must expect to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum or Living Wage (approximately £18,396 per year). You are not eligible if either parent has an adjusted net income exceeding £100,000.
Yes. If your child is disabled, you can receive up to £1,000 every 3 months (up to £4,000 per year) in government top-ups. A child is considered disabled for this scheme if they receive Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, or are certified as severely sight impaired.
Yes, you can use both. Tax Free Childcare can be used to pay for the ‘paid’ hours of your childcare (e.g., meals, extras, or hours beyond the 15 or 30 free hours) at an Ofsted-registered provider.