Tax-Free Childcare Calculator
Work out how much the government will top up your childcare costs. For every £8 you pay in, the government adds £2 -- up to £2,000 per child per year. Plus check your free hours entitlement.
Child 1
Total Government Top-Up
£1,600.00
On £8,000.00 annual childcare costs across 1 child
Breakdown by Child
| Annual childcare cost | £8,000.00 |
| Government top-up (20%) | £1,600.00 |
| Max top-up per year | £2,000.00 |
| Your net cost | £6,400.00 |
| Free hours entitlement | 30 hours free (if eligible working parents) |
About Tax-Free Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme where for every £8 you pay into your childcare account, the government adds £2. That is a 20% top-up, capped at £2,000 per child per year (£4,000 for disabled children).
To qualify, both parents must be working (or one working and one on disability benefits), each earning at least £8,670/year (16 hours at National Living Wage) and neither earning over £100,000.
Free Childcare Hours (England)
From September 2025, eligible working parents get 30 hours free childcare for children aged 9 months to school age. Two-year-olds get 15 universal hours. You cannot use Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours free entitlement together for the same hours -- but you can use Tax-Free Childcare for additional hours beyond your free entitlement.
Last updated: May 2026. Uses 2025/26 rates.
Built by The NexoraOS Team