Applying for tax free childcare when you have a 30 hours account already

[katmarie]

Just, how?!?! Does anyone know how I can apply for a tax free childcare account when I already have the 30 hours free account? I can't find an application form anywhere on my childcare service account. Every link on the gov.uk website to apply for tax free childcare takes me to my childcare account. Going around in circles is very frustrating, can anyone point me in the right direction?

It’s in the same place on the site - mine has my tax-free childcare account and then my 30 hours codes underneath (although I haven’t used them in donkey’s years). So it’s the same login etc. I can’t remember how I set it up through, sorry.

Mine doesn't have a tax free childcare account because I've never applied for one, I was on tax credits, and it's only recently that tax free childcare would have been a better option for us financially. So I don't have an account yet, but there's nowhere on the site to apply for one. Surely I don't have to wait until the next 30 hours confirmation to apply? That wouldn't be til March. Think I'm going to have to phone someone.

I'm now on the phone being passed to a third advisor from HMRC, to see if they can help me. So far I've been told that you can only apply for tax free childcare when your 30 hours code is due for reconfirmation. Fun times.

Hi, I’m wanting to do the exact same thing -did you ever get an option to apply for tax free childcare before your renewal was due?

@raysofhope After several phone calls with HMRC, I got nowhere. Apparently it can't be done. Even when you have more than one child, with only one getting the 30 hours, you have to wait until the 30 hours renewal. I have put in a complaint to HMRC but I'm not holding my breath.

How frustrating! Thanks for sharing your experience. Is there a publicly available email address that I can use to join you in voicing this frustration?

I followed the steps in this process: www.gov.uk/complain-about-hmrc

I got an acknowledgement email but nothing else since.

I submitted a compliant about this issue and was advised that although the system can’t cope with this directly, you can apply for a refund to cover the missing contributions. For anyone experiencing similar, this is the relevant form to fill in:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/childcare-service-compensation