Tax Free Childcare Calculator
Work out how much to pay into your childcare account and how much the government will add.
Work out how much to pay into your childcare account and how much the government will add.
Sign in to your Tax-Free Childcare account to add funds, pay providers, and reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months.
Use the official government checker to see if you qualify for Tax-Free Childcare and other childcare support schemes.
Follow the official government guide from eligibility check to receiving your first government contribution.
Tax-Free Childcare top-up scheme
Tax-Free Childcare is designed to help working parents with the cost of childcare. For every £8 you pay into your childcare account, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year, or £4,000 if your child is disabled.
Enter your childcare provider bill, any balance already in your childcare account, and any government top-up already received in the current 3-month period. The calculator shows the amount to pay in and the estimated government contribution.
Tax-Free Childcare works as a 20% top-up. In practical terms, you pay 80% of an eligible bill into your childcare account and the government adds the remaining 20%, up to the quarterly cap.
| Provider bill | You pay in | Gov top-up |
|---|---|---|
| £500 | £400 | £100 |
| £1,000 | £800 | £200 |
| £2,500 | £2,000 | £500 |
Follow our current step-by-step guide to applying for Tax-Free Childcare, including eligibility, what you need and the application process.
Learn how the Tax-Free Childcare income limit works, what adjusted net income includes and why it is not always the same as your salary.
Learn about the 30 Hours Free Childcare scheme, eligibility requirements, and how to combine it with other support for maximum savings.
Find out when Tax-Free Childcare can pay for breakfast clubs, after-school care and holiday clubs, what cannot be covered, and how to pay a school or provider.
Read moreLearn how working parents can use Free Childcare for Working Parents with Tax-Free Childcare, what costs each scheme covers, and how to plan your bill.
Read moreSee how long deposits, government top-ups and provider payments usually take, plus what to check when a Tax-Free Childcare payment is pending.
Read moreStay on top of your 3-month Tax-Free Childcare reconfirmation. Learn deadlines, reminders, what happens if you miss it, and how to keep your top-ups active.
Read moreThe calculator provided on this website is for informational and guidance purposes only. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the calculations, we cannot guarantee that the results will be free from errors or omissions. The calculations and results generated by this tool are based on the information you provide and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice.