Tax-Free Childcare Quarterly Limits and Top-Up Strategies (2025)

Tax‑Free Childcare adds 20% on top of what you pay in—up to a quarterly cap. Here’s how the limits work and simple strategies to make sure you don’t miss out on free government money.

Quarterly Caps at a Glance

• Standard cap: Government contributes up to £500 every 3 months per child (20% of £2,500 you pay in).
• Disabled child cap: Up to £1,000 every 3 months (20% of £5,000 you pay in).

Smart Top‑Up Strategies

• Align with bills: If your childcare bill is monthly, consider monthly top‑ups that keep you on track towards the quarterly cap without overfunding.
• Use remaining allowance: Near quarter end, check your remaining government allowance and add a small top‑up to fully utilise the cap.
• Avoid overfunding: Don’t lock too much cash in the account if your bills vary—top up just enough to trigger the 20% efficiently.

Quick Maths

• Every £8 → £2: For every £8 you add, the government adds £2 (20%).
• Max per quarter: £500 gov = £2,500 you; £1,000 gov (disabled) = £5,000 you.

Use our calculator to see personalised suggestions based on your bill and remaining quarterly allowance.