More than 600,000 families conjure up Hallowe’en savings with Tax-Free Childcare
Working families urged to sign up to Tax-Free Childcare to save on their childcare costs.
- Latest figures show 601,620 families saved up to £2,000 a year with Tax-Free Childcare.
- Working parents encouraged to sign up to Tax-Free Childcare today to save on the cost of childcare this Hallowe’en.
- More than £55 million of government cash added to Tax-Free Childcare accounts in June.
More than 600,000 families cast a savings spell and cut their childcare costs with Tax-Free Childcare HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) reveals, as it encourages others to sign up ahead of the spooky school holidays.
Tax-Free Childcare helps working families with their childcare costs by saving up to £2,000 per year for each of their children up to the age of 11 or £4,000 per year up to aged 16 if the child is disabled.
Latest figures show 601,620 families received a share of £55.7 million in government top-ups in June with each family getting an average of £93 added to their Tax-Free Childcare savings pot. For every £8 parents deposit in their child’s account, the government tops it up by £2.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said:
Paying for childcare while you work doesn’t have to be a nightmare for your bank balance this Hallowe’en. Tax-Free Childcare can make a real difference. Go to GOV.UK to find out more today.
Signing up to Tax-Free Childcare today means families can save on whatever Hallowe’en half term childcare plans they need as well as those for the year ahead.
Parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months towards their childcare costs. Savings can be used to pay for whatever approved childcare suits your family’s needs – nursery for younger children, before and after school clubs or activity clubs during the school holidays.
Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it’s needed. Any unused money can be withdrawn from the account at any time.
Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:
- have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday
- the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average
- each earn no more than £100,000 per annum
- do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers
Full eligibility can be found on GOV.UK.
Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside the free childcare hours, subject to eligibility.
Further Information
Latest Tax-Free Childcare statistics with data available up until June 2026 were released 26 August 2026.
More information about Tax-Free Childcare and how to register.
Each eligible child requires their own Tax-Free Childcare account. If families have more than one eligible child, they will need to register an account for each child. The government top-up is then applied to deposits made for each child, not household.
Account holders must confirm their details are up to date every 3 months to continue receiving the government top-up.
Childcare providers can also sign up for a childcare provider account via GOV.UK to receive payments from parents and carers via the scheme.