Tax-Free Childcare – reconfirm your details every 3 months

For every £8 you pay into a childcare account, the government adds £2, up to £500 every 3 months for each child aged 11 or under. You must sign in every 3 months to confirm you're still eligible, or the top-ups stop.

Deadline

No fixed deadline

Last checked

Checked against the official source: 20 October 2026

What if you miss the deadline? If you do not reconfirm your details in time, your Tax-Free Childcare stops. Sign in to your childcare account to restart it.

Tax-Free Childcare helps working parents pay for approved childcare. The government adds £2 for every £8 you pay in, up to £500 every 3 months per child (up to £2,000 a year). If your child is disabled, the limit is £1,000 every 3 months and the child can be up to 16.

How to do it

1. Check if you're eligible on GOV.UK. You usually need to be working or returning to work.
2. Open a childcare account online.
3. Pay money into the account. The government top-up is added automatically.
4. Pay your registered childcare provider from the account.
5. Sign in every 3 months to confirm you're still eligible. Set a reminder for the date shown in your account.

Common questions

How often do I need to reconfirm Tax-Free Childcare?

Every 3 months. You must sign in to your childcare account to confirm you're still eligible, or your Tax-Free Childcare will stop.

How much does Tax-Free Childcare give?

For every £8 you pay in, the government adds £2. The limit is £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) per child, or £1,000 every 3 months (up to £4,000 a year) if your child is disabled.

Up to what age can I get Tax-Free Childcare?

Your child must be 11 or younger. If your child is disabled, they must be 16 or younger.

Official source: gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

This information is not legal or tax advice.