Learn how the tax-free childcare scheme 2026 works, who qualifies, and how to claim up to £2,000 per child per year via a government-topped account.
Compare Tax-Free Childcare vs salary sacrifice childcare vouchers in 2026/27. Learn which scheme saves you more and how both affect your mortgage eligibility.
Crossing GBP 100,000 does not just trigger the 60% tax trap. It can also strip away Tax-Free Childcare and funded hours, so a modest raise can leave a parent worse off in 2026/27.
Going back to a GBP 34,000 job after maternity leave changes your tax code, your childcare costs and your monthly budget. Here is the 2026/27 take-home reality, including the move from SMP back to full pay.
When the lower earner in a couple returns on GBP 32,000, take-home, nursery fees and Tax-Free Childcare all collide. Here is the honest 2026/27 maths on whether the second income pays.
A workplace nursery benefit through salary sacrifice has no monetary cap and is free of income tax and National Insurance, unlike Tax-Free Childcare which is capped and closed to those earning over GBP 100,000. For high earners the savings can be substantial.
Tax-Free Childcare gives you £2 for every £8 you spend on childcare — up to £2,000/yr per child (£4,000 for disabled). Who qualifies, how to apply in 20 minutes, and the £100k income trap that catches many families.
Billions in benefits go unclaimed every year in the UK. This guide covers who qualifies for Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Tax-Free Childcare and council tax support.
