Tax-Free Childcare Calculator
Work out the government top-up on your childcare bill, how much to pay into your childcare account, and whether your income qualifies. Rules checked against GOV.UK on 9 October 2026.
Estimate only, based on GOV.UK rules checked on 9 October 2026. Assumes every child has the same monthly cost and your provider is signed up to Tax-Free Childcare. Not financial advice.
| Monthly cost | Yearly cost | Top-up (year) | Top-up (month) | You pay (year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £300 | £3,600 | £720 | £60 | £2,880 |
| £500 | £6,000 | £1,200 | £100 | £4,800 |
| £700 | £8,400 | £1,680 | £140 | £6,720 |
| £833 | £10,000 | £2,000 | £167 | £8,000 |
| £1,000 | £12,000 | £2,000 | £167 | £10,000 |
| £1,200 | £14,400 | £2,000 | £167 | £12,400 |
| £1,500 | £18,000 | £2,000 | £167 | £16,000 |
The top-up is 20% of the bill, capped at £2,000 a year for each child. Above about £833 a month you reach the cap, so each extra pound of cost is not topped up. For a disabled child the cap is £4,000 a year, which is reached at about £1,667 a month.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Tax-Free Childcare give you?
The government adds £2 for every £8 you pay into your childcare account, which is 20% of your total childcare bill. The most you can get is £500 every 3 months (£2,000 a year) for each child, or £1,000 every 3 months (£4,000 a year) for a disabled child. To get the full £2,000 for a child you need childcare costing £10,000 a year, which is about £833 a month.
How much do I need to pay into my Tax-Free Childcare account?
Pay in 80% of what you want to spend and the government tops it up by a quarter of your payment. To get the maximum £500 top-up in a 3-month period you pay in £2,000, which becomes £2,500 for your provider. If your childcare costs more than that, you pay the extra to your provider directly.
Who is eligible for Tax-Free Childcare?
You and your partner, if you have one, must each expect to earn at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for about 16 hours a week (£2,643.68 over the next 3 months if you are 21 or over) and neither of you can have adjusted net income over £100,000. Your child must be 11 or under, or 16 or under if disabled, and your provider must be signed up to the scheme.
Can I get Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit childcare at the same time?
No. You cannot get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as Universal Credit childcare costs, or at the same time as childcare vouchers. You can combine Tax-Free Childcare with the free childcare hours for working parents.
Can I use Tax-Free Childcare for after-school clubs and holiday clubs?
Yes, as long as the provider is registered and signed up to the scheme. It can pay for nurseries, childminders, nannies registered with Ofsted or an equivalent body, play schemes, and before and after school clubs for children up to 11.
Do I have to renew Tax-Free Childcare?
Yes. You must sign in to your childcare account and reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months, or the top-ups stop.
Is this calculator exact?
No, it is an estimate based on the rules published on GOV.UK on 9 October 2026. It assumes every child has the same monthly cost and that your provider accepts Tax-Free Childcare. Use the official GOV.UK childcare calculator to check what you are entitled to.
About this tool
Tax-Free Childcare is a UK government scheme that tops up what working parents pay into an online childcare account: for every £8 you put in, the government adds £2. This calculator multiplies your monthly childcare cost by 12, applies the 20% top-up and the cap of £2,000 a year per child (£4,000 for a disabled child), and shows how much to pay in each month and how much, if anything, you pay to your provider directly. It also checks the £100,000 income limit and the minimum earnings rule for each parent. Figures come from the GOV.UK Tax-Free Childcare pages, last checked on 9 October 2026. Official sources: GOV.UK Tax-Free Childcare and eligibility rules.