Tax-free saving for childcare

Benefit from the government scheme to help you manage the cost of childcare. Under this scheme, you open an online account to pay for registered childcare. For every £8 you pay into the account, the government will add an extra £2 – effectively a tax rebate. You can receive up to £2,000 for each child each year or £4,000 if your child is disabled.

The scheme is available for paying childcare for children from birth to age 11 (or 16, if the child is disabled). To be eligible for the scheme, you and your partner must each expect to earn at least £120 a week but under £100,000 a year. You are not allowed use the scheme at the same time as you are using childcare vouchers, Universal Credit for childcare or tax credits for childcare.

Don’t forget to check the free childcare schemes the government provides – there are different schemes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Note: you can find out how to register and when you may be eligible by going to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

If you are currently using childcare vouchers, please make sure you read all the information before deciding if this scheme is right for you. Once you leave the childcare voucher scheme you can’t rejoin it.

To help you decide, the government has created a calculator to show you how much help you could get. You can find it here: www.gov.uk/childcare-calculator.