Guides › Public Services › Tax-Free Childcare: How It Works
Tax-Free Childcare: How It Works
With Tax-Free Childcare the government adds up to £500 every 3 months for each child (up to £2,000 a year), or £1,000 every 3 months for a disabled child. Your child must be 11 or under, or 16 or under if disabled, and you will usually need to be working. You must reconfirm every 3 months or the support stops.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Tax-Free Childcare
GOV.UK
The total top-up for each child is £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year), rising to £1,000 every 3 months (up to £4,000 a year) for a disabled child. You will usually need to be working or returning to work, and your child must be 11 or younger (16 or younger if disabled). You must sign in every 3 months to confirm you are still eligible, or the support stops. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- Every 3 monthsReconfirmOr payments stop
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check eligibility on GOV.UK.
Step 2 of 5
Open a childcare account.
Step 3 of 5
Set a reminder to reconfirm every 3 months.
Step 4 of 5
Pay your provider through the account.
Step 5 of 5
Compare with Universal Credit childcare help before choosing.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Tax-Free Childcare (GOV.UK)
Apply and manage your account.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Check which childcare support suits you best: you cannot always use more than one scheme.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/tax-free-childcare Checked 13 October 2026