About the UK Tax-Free Childcare Calculator
This UK Tax-Free Childcare calculator works out how much the government will add to your childcare account and whether you meet the 2026/27 eligibility rules. For every £8 you pay in, the government adds £2 — a 20% top-up of your childcare bill — up to £500 every three months (£2,000 a year) per child, or £1,000 a quarter (£4,000 a year) for a disabled child. Children must be 11 or younger, or 16 or younger if disabled.
It is built for working parents in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland comparing childcare options, and for parents of under-fives in England checking Free Childcare for Working Parents — 30 hours a week, term time, for children from 9 months old until they start school. Both schemes use the same work test: each parent must expect to earn at least 16 hours a week at the National Minimum or Living Wage (£203.36 a week at the £12.71 rate from April 2026 for those 21 and over), and neither may have adjusted net income over £100,000.
Enter what you pay for approved childcare after any free hours are used. You cannot use Tax-Free Childcare while claiming Universal Credit or childcare vouchers; the calculator flags a Universal Credit claim, and if you still get vouchers you would need to stop them before switching. Free hours rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
With the default inputs, the government top-up (yearly) is £2,000.00. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the uk tax-free childcare calculator
- 1Enter how many children use childcare and how many are disabled.
- 2Enter the yearly childcare bill per child after any free hours.
- 3Tell the calculator whether you have a partner and each parent’s age and weekly earnings.
- 4Switch on the £100,000 or Universal Credit toggles if they apply.
- 5Read your yearly top-up, what you pay, and your free hours entitlement.
Formula and method
The government adds 25p for every £1 you pay into your childcare account, which equals 20% of the total amount paid to the provider. The top-up is capped at £500 per child every three months (£2,000 a year), or £1,000 per quarter (£4,000 a year) for a disabled child, so the maximum is reached at a yearly bill of £10,000 per child (£20,000 if disabled). The calculator assumes your yearly spending is spread evenly across quarters.
To qualify, each parent must expect to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the minimum wage for their age over the next three months: from April 2026 that is £2,643.68 per quarter (£203.36 a week) at 21+, £2,256.80 (£173.60) at 18–20 and £1,664 (£128) for under-18s and apprentices. A non-working partner who gets Carer’s Allowance or certain incapacity benefits does not stop the household qualifying, and neither parent may have adjusted net income above £100,000.
- cost
- Yearly amount paid to approved childcare for one child
- NMW/NLW
- National Minimum / Living Wage hourly rate for your age (£12.71 at 21+ from April 2026)
Worked examples
Couple, one child at nursery costing £12,000 a year
Twenty per cent of £12,000 is £2,400, but the top-up is capped at £2,000 a year per child, so the parents pay £10,000 and the government adds £2,000. Both earn above £203.36 a week, so they also qualify for 30 free hours.
Single parent, two school-age children at £3,000 each
Twenty per cent of £3,000 is £600 per child, under the £2,000 cap, so the top-up is £1,200 for two children. Of the £6,000 total bill the parent pays £4,800.
Disabled child with a £15,000 bill
For a disabled child the cap is £4,000 a year. Twenty per cent of £15,000 is £3,000, which is under the cap, so the full £3,000 is paid and the family pays £12,000.
Partner earning only £150 a week
At 21 or over each parent needs £203.36 a week (16 hours × £12.71). A partner earning £150 a week falls short, so neither Tax-Free Childcare nor the 30 hours is available unless the partner gets a qualifying benefit.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Tax-Free Childcare top-up?+
The government pays £2 for every £8 you pay in — 20% of your childcare bill — up to £500 per child every three months (£2,000 a year), or £1,000 per quarter (£4,000 a year) for a disabled child.
What are the minimum earnings for Tax-Free Childcare in 2026/27?+
Each parent must expect to earn at least 16 hours a week at their minimum wage rate over the next three months. From April 2026 that is £2,643.68 per quarter if you are 21 or over, £2,256.80 at 18–20 and £1,664 for under-18s and apprentices.
Can I get Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free childcare together?+
Yes. Free hours are funded directly to your provider, and you can use Tax-Free Childcare to pay for any extra hours, meals or holiday care on top. Both use the same earnings and £100,000 rules.
Can I get Tax-Free Childcare with Universal Credit?+
No. You must choose between Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element. UC can cover up to 85% of costs, so lower earners are often better off staying on UC.
What happens if one parent earns over £100,000?+
If either parent’s adjusted net income is expected to exceed £100,000 in the tax year, the household cannot get Tax-Free Childcare or Free Childcare for Working Parents. Pension contributions and Gift Aid reduce adjusted net income.
Do I have to reconfirm my eligibility?+
Yes. You must sign in to your childcare account every three months to reconfirm your circumstances, or the top-ups and free hours code will stop.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.