Sign in to your childcare account

Use this account to get free childcare if you’re working or pay for your Tax-Free Childcare.

To keep getting free childcare if you’re working or Tax-Free Childcare, you must sign in every 3 months and confirm your details are up to date.

If you want to get free childcare if you’re working or Tax-Free Childcare and you’re from an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you need settled or pre-settled status or permission to access public funds.

If you’re eligible for free childcare if you’re working, sign in to get a code to give to your childcare provider.

If you’ve registered for Tax-Free Childcare, sign in to:

  • pay money into your account
  • pay your childcare provider
  • apply for a new child

You’ll need the Government Gateway user ID and password you used when you applied for Tax-Free Childcare.

This service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Sign in

Before you start

You sign in to your account in a different way if you’re a childcare provider.

If you’ve been unable to use the service

You may be able to claim compensation if you’ve had technical problems with your account.

Part of Get free childcare if you're working: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check you're eligible

    1. Check if you're eligible for free childcare if you're working
    2. Find out what types of childcare you can use

  2. Step 2 Check if you'll be better off

    Getting free childcare might affect how much you get in tax credits.

    1. Check if you’ll be better off

  3. Step 3 Apply for free childcare if you're working

    There's one application for free childcare if you're working and Tax-Free Childcare. As part of your application, you will find out if you can get both.

    1. Apply online

    If you're eligible you'll get a childcare account and a code for free childcare.

  4. Step 4 Give your code to your childcare provider

    Give the code in your childcare account to your provider along with:

    • your National Insurance number
    • your child's date of birth

  5. Step 5 Sign in to your account to reconfirm your details

    You must confirm your details are up to date every 3 months or your code will expire.

    1. You are currently viewing: Sign in to your childcare account to confirm your details

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