Tax-Free Childcare Calculator
See how much the government adds to your childcare. For every £8 you pay in, they add £2, up to £2,000 per child per year (£4,000 if disabled).
How Tax-Free Childcare works
Tax-Free Childcare adds £2 for every £8 you pay in, up to £2,000 per child a year, under the 2025 HMRC scheme.
You open an online account and pay money in. The government adds 25% on top straight away, the equivalent of £2 for every £8. You spend the combined pot on qualifying childcare providers signed up to the scheme, from nurseries to after-school and holiday clubs.
Here is the full top-up in practice. Pay in £8,000 for one child over the year and the government adds £2,000, giving you £10,000 to spend on childcare.
Eligibility (2025)
Eligibility is a guide and is set by HMRC. Check yours at the official Childcare Choices service.