- Set up an online childcare account for your child on GOV.UK.
- Search for childcare providers through the online account using their name, town, or post code. If your childcare provider is signed-up to Tax-Free Childcare, you can add them to your account and start paying them straight away. If they aren’t registered, you will be able to send them a nudge notification asking them to sign-up to the scheme.
- Deposit money into the account. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2. You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).
- Use the topped-up money to pay your childcare provider through your online account.
- Reconfirm your eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare every three months. You’ll get a text reminder and it’s easy to do through your online account.
If your child is disabled
You can use the extra Tax-Free Childcare money you get to help pay for extra hours of childcare. You can also use it to help pay your childcare provider so they can get specialist equipment for your child, such as mobility aids. Talk to them about what equipment your child can get.