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class="gem-c-step-nav-header__title govuk-link" data-track-category="stepNavHeaderClicked" data-track-action="top" data-track-label="/get-tax-free-childcare" data-track-dimension="Get Tax-Free Childcare: step by step" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-track-options="{"dimension96":"d78aeaf6-1747-4d72-9619-f16efb4dd89d"}"> Get Tax-Free Childcare: step by step </a> </div> </div> <main role="main" id="content" class="answer" lang="en"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-title govuk-!-margin-top-8 govuk-!-margin-bottom-8"> <h1 class="gem-c-title__text govuk-heading-xl"> Tax-Free Childcare </h1> </div> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="responsive-bottom-margin"> <div class="gem-c-govspeak govuk-govspeak direction-ltr disable-youtube" data-module="govspeak"> <p>You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).</p> <div role="note" aria-label="Information" class="application-notice info-notice"> <p>If you’ve already registered, you can <a href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-childcare-account">sign in to your childcare account</a>.</p> </div> <p>If you get Tax-Free Childcare, you’ll set up an online childcare account for your child. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your provider.</p> <p>You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours free childcare if you’re eligible for both.</p> <h2 id="what-you-can-use-tax-free-childcare-for">What you can use Tax-Free Childcare for</h2> <p>You can use it to pay for <a href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs">approved childcare</a>, for example:</p> <ul> <li>childminders, nurseries and nannies</li> <li>after school clubs and play schemes</li> </ul> <p>Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can pay them and benefit from Tax-Free Childcare.</p> <p>Check with your provider to see if they’re signed up.</p> <h3 id="if-your-child-is-disabled">If your child is disabled</h3> <p>You can use the extra Tax-Free Childcare money you get to help pay for extra hours of childcare. You can also use it to help pay your childcare provider so they can get specialist equipment for your child such as mobility aids. Talk to them about what equipment your child can get.</p> <h3 id="if-your-childcare-provider-is-in-an-eea-country">If your childcare provider is in an <abbr title="European Economic Area">EEA</abbr> country</h3> <p>You may be able to use Tax-Free Childcare to pay a provider based in a <a href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/eu-eea">European Economic Area (<abbr title="European Economic Area">EEA</abbr>)</a> country. <a href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/childcare-service-helpline">Contact HM Revenue and Customs (<abbr title="HM Revenue and Customs">HMRC</abbr>)</a> to check.</p> <h2 id="eligibility">Eligibility</h2> <p>Your eligibility depends on:</p> <ul> <li>if you are working</li> <li>your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)</li> <li>your child’s age and circumstances</li> <li>your immigration status</li> </ul> <h3 id="if-you-are-working">If you are working</h3> <p>You can usually get Tax-Free Childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:</p> <ul> <li>in work</li> <li>on sick leave or annual leave</li> <li>on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave</li> </ul> <p>If you’re on adoption leave, you cannot apply for the child you’re on leave for unless you’re going back to work within 31 days of the date you first applied.</p> <h3 id="if-youre-not-currently-working">If you’re not currently working</h3> <p>You may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you get Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance or contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance.</p> <p>You can apply if you’re starting or re-starting work within the next 31 days.</p> <h3 id="your-income">Your income</h3> <p>You’ll need to expect to earn a certain amount over the next 3 months. This is at least the <a href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates">National Minimum Wage or Living Wage</a> for 16 hours a week on average.</p> <p>For example, over the next 3 months you expect to earn at least £1,976 - the National Living Wage for people over 23.</p> <p>If you have a partner, they’ll need to expect to earn at least this much too.</p> <p>If you’re self-employed and do not expect to make enough profit in the next 3 months, you can use an average of how much you expect to make over the current tax year.</p> <p>This earnings limit does not apply if you’re self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago.</p> <p>If you or your partner have an expected ‘adjusted net income’ over £100,000 in the current tax year you will not be eligible. This includes any bonuses you expect to get.</p> <p>Your adjusted net income is your total <a href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/adjusted-net-income">taxable income</a> before any personal allowances and minus things like Gift Aid.</p> <p>Certain types of income will not count towards the minimum amount you must earn to be eligible.</p> <p>These include:</p> <ul> <li>dividends</li> <li>interest</li> <li>income from investing in property</li> <li>pension payments</li> </ul> <h3 id="your-child">Your child</h3> <p>Your child must be 11 or under and usually live with you. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday.</p> <p>Adopted children are eligible, but foster children are not.</p> <p>If your child is disabled you may get up to £4,000 a year until they’re 17. They’re eligible for this if they:</p> <ul> <li>get Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Child Disability Payment (Scotland only) or Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)</li> <li>are <a rel="external" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.rnib.org.uk/eye-health/registering-your-sight-loss/criteria-certification">certified as blind or severely sight-impaired</a> </li> </ul> <h3 id="your-immigration-status">Your immigration status</h3> <p>To be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, you (or your partner if you have one) must have a National Insurance number and at least one of the following:</p> <ul> <li>British or Irish citizenship</li> <li> <a href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families">settled or pre-settled status</a>, or you have applied and you’re waiting for a decision</li> <li>permission to access public funds - your UK residence card will tell you if you cannot do this</li> </ul> <p>If you’re living in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you (or your partner if you have one) might still be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if:</p> <ul> <li>your work is in the UK</li> <li>the work started before 1 January 2021</li> <li>you’ve worked in the UK at least once every 12 months since you started working here</li> </ul> <p>This is known as being a <a href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit">‘frontier worker’</a>. You must show your Frontier Worker permit to the Childcare Service when you apply for Tax-Free Childcare.</p> <h2 id="if-you-get-tax-credits-universal-credit-a-childcare-bursary-or-grant-or-childcare-vouchers">If you get tax credits, Universal Credit, a childcare bursary or grant, or childcare vouchers</h2> <p>You cannot get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as claiming Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers.</p> <p>Which scheme you’re better off with depends on your situation. Use the <a href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/childcare-calculator">childcare calculator</a> to work out which type of support is best for you.</p> <h3 id="tax-credits">Tax credits</h3> <p>If you successfully apply for Tax-Free Childcare, your Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit will stop straight away. You cannot apply for them again.</p> <h3 id="childcare-vouchers">Childcare vouchers</h3> <p>You must tell your employer within 90 days of applying for Tax-Free Childcare to stop your <a href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/childcare-vouchers">childcare vouchers or directly contracted childcare</a>.</p> <p>They’ll then stop the vouchers or directly contracted childcare.</p> <p>You may have to give <abbr title="HM Revenue and Customs">HMRC</abbr> evidence of leaving the childcare voucher scheme. For example, a copy of the letter telling your employer you’re leaving the childcare voucher scheme.</p> <p>If you have a partner who gets vouchers or directly contracted childcare, they’ll need to tell their employer to stop this within 90 days too.</p> <h3 id="universal-credit">Universal Credit</h3> <p>Wait until you get a decision on your Tax-Free Childcare application before cancelling your Universal Credit claim.</p> <h3 id="bursaries">Bursaries</h3> <p>If you or your partner get a childcare bursary or grant or expect to do so within the next 3 months, you cannot get Tax-Free Childcare.</p> <h2 id="apply">Apply</h2> <p><a href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-tax-free-childcare">Apply online for Tax-Free Childcare</a></p> <p>If you apply for Tax-Free Childcare and someone else already gets 30 hours free childcare for that child, their 30 hours will stop at the end of the next term. You will be eligible for 30 hours free childcare instead.</p> <h3 id="if-you-have-a-partner">If you have a partner</h3> <p>You must include your partner in your application if you are:</p> <ul> <li>married or in a civil partnership and live together</li> <li>not married or in a civil partnership, but living together as though you are</li> </ul> <p>Their employment and income will not affect your eligibility if they:</p> <ul> <li>are or will be absent from your household for more than 6 months</li> <li>are a prisoner</li> </ul> <div role="note" aria-label="Information" class="application-notice info-notice"> <p>You and your partner cannot both have accounts for the same child.</p> </div> <h3 id="if-you-are-separated">If you are separated</h3> <p>You and your ex-partner need to decide who should apply if you are jointly responsible for your child.</p> <p>If you cannot decide, both of you must apply separately and <abbr title="HM Revenue and Customs">HMRC</abbr> will decide who gets a childcare account.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third"> <div class="gem-c-contextual-sidebar"> <div class="gem-c-step-nav-related gem-c-step-nav-related--singular" data-module="gem-track-click"> <h2 class="gem-c-step-nav-related__heading"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav-related__pretitle">Part of</span> <a href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/get-tax-free-childcare" class="govuk-link" data-track-category="stepNavPartOfClicked" data-track-action="Part of" data-track-label="/get-tax-free-childcare" data-track-dimension="Get Tax-Free Childcare: step by step" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-track-options="{"dimension96" : "d78aeaf6-1747-4d72-9619-f16efb4dd89d" }"> Get Tax-Free Childcare: step by step </a> </h2> </div> <div data-module="gemstepnav" class="gem-c-step-nav js-hidden govuk-!-display-none-print " data-id="d78aeaf6-1747-4d72-9619-f16efb4dd89d" data-show-text="Show" data-hide-text="Hide" data-show-all-text="Show all steps" data-hide-all-text="Hide all steps"> <ol class="gem-c-step-nav__steps"> <li class="gem-c-step-nav__step js-step gem-c-step-nav__step--active" aria-current="step" data-show id="check-you-re-eligible" data-track-count="stepNavSection"> <div class="gem-c-step-nav__header js-toggle-panel" data-position="1"> <h3 class="gem-c-step-nav__title"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle gem-c-step-nav__circle--number"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-inner"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-background"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-step-label govuk-!-display-none-print visuallyhidden">Step</span> 1<span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-step-colon govuk-!-display-none-print visuallyhidden" aria-hidden="true">:</span> </span> </span> </span> <span class="js-step-title"> Check you're eligible </span> </h3> </div> <div class="gem-c-step-nav__panel js-panel" id="step-panel-check-you-re-eligible-1"> <ol class="gem-c-step-nav__list " data-length="2"> <li class="gem-c-step-nav__list-item js-list-item gem-c-step-nav__list-item--active"><a data-position="1.1" class="gem-c-step-nav__link js-link" href="#content"><span class="gem-c-step-nav__link-active-context visuallyhidden">You are currently viewing: </span>Check if you're eligible for Tax-Free Childcare </a></li> <li class="gem-c-step-nav__list-item js-list-item "><a data-position="1.2" class="gem-c-step-nav__link js-link" href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs?step-by-step-nav=d78aeaf6-1747-4d72-9619-f16efb4dd89d">Find out what types of childcare you can use </a></li> </ol> </div> </li> <li class="gem-c-step-nav__step js-step " id="check-if-you-ll-be-better-off" data-track-count="stepNavSection"> <div class="gem-c-step-nav__header js-toggle-panel" data-position="2"> <h3 class="gem-c-step-nav__title"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle gem-c-step-nav__circle--number"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-inner"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-background"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-step-label govuk-!-display-none-print visuallyhidden">Step</span> 2<span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-step-colon govuk-!-display-none-print visuallyhidden" aria-hidden="true">:</span> </span> </span> </span> <span class="js-step-title"> Check if you'll be better off </span> </h3> </div> <div class="gem-c-step-nav__panel js-panel" id="step-panel-check-if-you-ll-be-better-off-2"> <p class="gem-c-step-nav__paragraph">Your tax credits will stop immediately if you successfully apply for Tax-Free Childcare. </p> <p class="gem-c-step-nav__paragraph">You (and your partner, if you have one) will also have to cancel your Universal Credit and childcare vouchers.</p> <p class="gem-c-step-nav__paragraph">Before you apply, check if it's the right option for you. </p> <ol class="gem-c-step-nav__list " data-length="1"><li class="gem-c-step-nav__list-item js-list-item "><a data-position="2.1" class="gem-c-step-nav__link js-link" href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/childcare-calculator?step-by-step-nav=d78aeaf6-1747-4d72-9619-f16efb4dd89d">Check if you'll be better off </a></li></ol> </div> </li> <li class="gem-c-step-nav__step js-step " id="apply-for-tax-free-childcare" data-track-count="stepNavSection"> <div class="gem-c-step-nav__header js-toggle-panel" data-position="3"> <h3 class="gem-c-step-nav__title"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle gem-c-step-nav__circle--number"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-inner"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-background"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-step-label govuk-!-display-none-print visuallyhidden">Step</span> 3<span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-step-colon govuk-!-display-none-print visuallyhidden" aria-hidden="true">:</span> </span> </span> </span> <span class="js-step-title"> Apply for Tax-Free Childcare </span> </h3> </div> <div class="gem-c-step-nav__panel js-panel" id="step-panel-apply-for-tax-free-childcare-3"> <p class="gem-c-step-nav__paragraph">There's one application for Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare. As part of your application, you will find out if you can get both.</p> <ol class="gem-c-step-nav__list " data-length="1"><li class="gem-c-step-nav__list-item js-list-item "><a data-position="3.1" class="gem-c-step-nav__link js-link" href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-tax-free-childcare?step-by-step-nav=d78aeaf6-1747-4d72-9619-f16efb4dd89d">Apply online for Tax-Free Childcare </a></li></ol> <p class="gem-c-step-nav__paragraph">If you're eligible you'll get a childcare account. You can use this to pay your childcare provider.</p> </div> </li> <li class="gem-c-step-nav__step js-step " id="sign-in-to-your-account-to-pay-your-childcare-provider" data-track-count="stepNavSection"> <div class="gem-c-step-nav__header js-toggle-panel" data-position="4"> <h3 class="gem-c-step-nav__title"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle gem-c-step-nav__circle--number"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-inner"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-background"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-step-label govuk-!-display-none-print visuallyhidden">Step</span> 4<span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-step-colon govuk-!-display-none-print visuallyhidden" aria-hidden="true">:</span> </span> </span> </span> <span class="js-step-title"> Sign in to your account to pay your childcare provider </span> </h3> </div> <div class="gem-c-step-nav__panel js-panel" id="step-panel-sign-in-to-your-account-to-pay-your-childcare-provider-4"> <ol class="gem-c-step-nav__list " data-length="1"><li class="gem-c-step-nav__list-item js-list-item "><a data-position="4.1" class="gem-c-step-nav__link js-link" href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-childcare-account?step-by-step-nav=d78aeaf6-1747-4d72-9619-f16efb4dd89d">Sign in to your childcare account </a></li></ol> </div> </li> <li class="gem-c-step-nav__step js-step " id="reconfirm-your-details-every-3-months" data-track-count="stepNavSection"> <div class="gem-c-step-nav__header js-toggle-panel" data-position="5"> <h3 class="gem-c-step-nav__title"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle gem-c-step-nav__circle--logic"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-inner"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav__circle-background"> and </span> </span> </span> <span class="js-step-title"> Reconfirm your details every 3 months </span> </h3> </div> <div class="gem-c-step-nav__panel js-panel" id="step-panel-reconfirm-your-details-every-3-months-5"> <p class="gem-c-step-nav__paragraph">You must confirm your details are up to date every 3 months.</p> <ol class="gem-c-step-nav__list " data-length="1"><li class="gem-c-step-nav__list-item js-list-item "><a data-position="5.1" class="gem-c-step-nav__link js-link" href="/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-childcare-account?step-by-step-nav=d78aeaf6-1747-4d72-9619-f16efb4dd89d">Sign in to your childcare account to confirm your details </a></li></ol> </div> </li> </ol> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="gem-c-feedback govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="feedback"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt gem-c-feedback__js-show js-prompt" tabindex="-1"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions js-prompt-questions" hidden> <h2 class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-question">Is this page useful?</h2> <ul class="gem-c-feedback__option-list"> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item govuk-visually-hidden" style="display: none" hidden> <a class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-link" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" 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src="/web/20220920150101js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/application-e1e62596ef2bfbfb7ca2e9c4e9ff80f9d6895409d3f92b4a932ae3b01142357a.js"></script> <script src="/web/20220920150101js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/application-aacf3587c0a49cbc9947d2db12776b824d11daab06499f84534f3dd5232e1a72.js"></script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/http://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare" }, "name": "Tax-Free Childcare", "datePublished": "2018-09-25T10:57:37.000+00:00", "dateModified": "2019-01-11T09:00:06.000+00:00", "text": "What Tax-Free Childcare is, eligibility and how to apply", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": 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"http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digital-service" }, "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Tax-Free Childcare", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare", "text": "\u003cp\u003eYou can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’ve already registered, you can \u003ca href=\"/sign-in-childcare-account\"\u003esign in to your childcare account\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you get Tax-Free Childcare, you’ll set up an online childcare account for your child. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your provider.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours free childcare if you’re eligible for both.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What you can use Tax-Free Childcare for", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare#what-you-can-use-tax-free-childcare-for", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare#what-you-can-use-tax-free-childcare-for", "text": "\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can use it to pay for \u003ca href=\"/help-with-childcare-costs\"\u003eapproved childcare\u003c/a\u003e, for example:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003echildminders, nurseries and nannies\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eafter school clubs and play schemes\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can pay them and benefit from Tax-Free Childcare.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCheck with your provider to see if they’re signed up.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"if-your-child-is-disabled\"\u003eIf your child is disabled\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can use the extra Tax-Free Childcare money you get to help pay for extra hours of childcare. You can also use it to help pay your childcare provider so they can get specialist equipment for your child such as mobility aids. Talk to them about what equipment your child can get.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"if-your-childcare-provider-is-in-an-eea-country\"\u003eIf your childcare provider is in an \u003cabbr title=\"European Economic Area\"\u003eEEA\u003c/abbr\u003e country\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou may be able to use Tax-Free Childcare to pay a provider based in a \u003ca href=\"/eu-eea\"\u003eEuropean Economic Area (\u003cabbr title=\"European Economic Area\"\u003eEEA\u003c/abbr\u003e)\u003c/a\u003e country. \u003ca href=\"/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/childcare-service-helpline\"\u003eContact HM Revenue and Customs (\u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue and Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e)\u003c/a\u003e to check.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Eligibility", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare#eligibility", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare#eligibility", "text": "\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour eligibility depends on:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eif you are working\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyour income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyour child’s age and circumstances\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyour immigration status\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"if-you-are-working\"\u003eIf you are working\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can usually get Tax-Free Childcare if you (and your partner, if you have one) are:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ein work\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eon sick leave or annual leave\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eon shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’re on adoption leave, you cannot apply for the child you’re on leave for unless you’re going back to work within 31 days of the date you first applied.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"if-youre-not-currently-working\"\u003eIf you’re not currently working\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you get Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance or contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can apply if you’re starting or re-starting work within the next 31 days.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"your-income\"\u003eYour income\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou’ll need to expect to earn a certain amount over the next 3 months. This is at least the \u003ca href=\"/national-minimum-wage-rates\"\u003eNational Minimum Wage or Living Wage\u003c/a\u003e for 16 hours a week on average.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor example, over the next 3 months you expect to earn at least £1,976 - the National Living Wage for people over 23.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have a partner, they’ll need to expect to earn at least this much too.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’re self-employed and do not expect to make enough profit in the next 3 months, you can use an average of how much you expect to make over the current tax year.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis earnings limit does not apply if you’re self-employed and started your business less than 12 months ago.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you or your partner have an expected ‘adjusted net income’ over £100,000 in the current tax year you will not be eligible. This includes any bonuses you expect to get.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour adjusted net income is your total \u003ca href=\"/guidance/adjusted-net-income\"\u003etaxable income\u003c/a\u003e before any personal allowances and minus things like Gift Aid.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCertain types of income will not count towards the minimum amount you must earn to be eligible.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese include:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003edividends\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003einterest\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eincome from investing in property\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003epension payments\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"your-child\"\u003eYour child\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYour child must be 11 or under and usually live with you. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAdopted children are eligible, but foster children are not.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf your child is disabled you may get up to £4,000 a year until they’re 17. They’re eligible for this if they:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eget Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Child Disability Payment (Scotland only) or Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eare \u003ca rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.rnib.org.uk/eye-health/registering-your-sight-loss/criteria-certification\"\u003ecertified as blind or severely sight-impaired\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"your-immigration-status\"\u003eYour immigration status\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTo be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, you (or your partner if you have one) must have a National Insurance number and at least one of the following:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eBritish or Irish citizenship\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"/settled-status-eu-citizens-families\"\u003esettled or pre-settled status\u003c/a\u003e, or you have applied and you’re waiting for a decision\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003epermission to access public funds - your UK residence card will tell you if you cannot do this\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’re living in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you (or your partner if you have one) might still be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyour work is in the UK\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ethe work started before 1 January 2021\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eyou’ve worked in the UK at least once every 12 months since you started working here\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is known as being a \u003ca href=\"/frontier-worker-permit\"\u003e‘frontier worker’\u003c/a\u003e. You must show your Frontier Worker permit to the Childcare Service when you apply for Tax-Free Childcare.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "If you get tax credits, Universal Credit, a childcare bursary or grant, or childcare vouchers", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare#if-you-get-tax-credits-universal-credit-a-childcare-bursary-or-grant-or-childcare-vouchers", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare#if-you-get-tax-credits-universal-credit-a-childcare-bursary-or-grant-or-childcare-vouchers", "text": "\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou cannot get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as claiming Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhich scheme you’re better off with depends on your situation. Use the \u003ca href=\"/childcare-calculator\"\u003echildcare calculator\u003c/a\u003e to work out which type of support is best for you.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"tax-credits\"\u003eTax credits\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you successfully apply for Tax-Free Childcare, your Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit will stop straight away. You cannot apply for them again.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"childcare-vouchers\"\u003eChildcare vouchers\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou must tell your employer within 90 days of applying for Tax-Free Childcare to stop your \u003ca href=\"/help-with-childcare-costs/childcare-vouchers\"\u003echildcare vouchers or directly contracted childcare\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThey’ll then stop the vouchers or directly contracted childcare.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou may have to give \u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue and Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e evidence of leaving the childcare voucher scheme. For example, a copy of the letter telling your employer you’re leaving the childcare voucher scheme.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have a partner who gets vouchers or directly contracted childcare, they’ll need to tell their employer to stop this within 90 days too.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"universal-credit\"\u003eUniversal Credit\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWait until you get a decision on your Tax-Free Childcare application before cancelling your Universal Credit claim.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"bursaries\"\u003eBursaries\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you or your partner get a childcare bursary or grant or expect to do so within the next 3 months, you cannot get Tax-Free Childcare.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Apply", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare#apply", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare#apply", "text": "\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"/apply-for-tax-free-childcare\"\u003eApply online for Tax-Free Childcare\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you apply for Tax-Free Childcare and someone else already gets 30 hours free childcare for that child, their 30 hours will stop at the end of the next term. You will be eligible for 30 hours free childcare instead.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"if-you-have-a-partner\"\u003eIf you have a partner\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou must include your partner in your application if you are:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003emarried or in a civil partnership and live together\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003enot married or in a civil partnership, but living together as though you are\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTheir employment and income will not affect your eligibility if they:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eare or will be absent from your household for more than 6 months\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eare a prisoner\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou and your partner cannot both have accounts for the same child.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 id=\"if-you-are-separated\"\u003eIf you are separated\u003c/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou and your ex-partner need to decide who should apply if you are jointly responsible for your child.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you cannot decide, both of you must apply separately and \u003cabbr title=\"HM Revenue and Customs\"\u003eHMRC\u003c/abbr\u003e will decide who gets a childcare account.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n" } } ] } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "name": "Home", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "name": "Get Tax-Free Childcare: step by step", "@id": "http://web.archive.org/web/20220920150101/https://www.gov.uk/get-tax-free-childcare" } } ] } </script> </body> </html>

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