Tax free childcare account

[MeohMyoh]

I am looking to open a tax free childcare account as I will soon be back to work and my youngest will be in childcare. My older two are in school and I never opened an account with them as the childcare voucher scheme worked for us at the time.

I have already got a code for my youngest but can’t see anywhere how I open a tax free childcare account? Can this only be done at certain times, ie at re confirmation?

All the information is here. You can open an account anytime. https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/childcare-early-years-education/tax-free-childcare

Thank you! That’s a really useful website. The problem im having is when i log into my .gov account there isn’t a link to apply for tax free childcare? I end up stuck on the page where you can reconfirm, check secure messages and view the codes etc. An i doing something wrong?

Has your child started at nursery?

You code may need to be activated before you can access TFC perhaps

They start in a couple of weeks

When did you apply for your funded hours?

What is your return to work date?

There's no such thing as activating a code.

Ok @Nickyknackeredthanks for your help

Sounds like you are on your own gov.uk landing page where you see self assessment, tax codes etc.

I've never applied for this relief but maybe someone can confirm if it is your tax gov.uk that you use rather than set up a new one.

It's the same portal and info used to set up both.

https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-childcare-account?step-by-step-nav=d78aeaf6-1747-4d72-9619-f16efb4dd89d

Have you done step 3- apply for a TFC account ?

Funded hours start in January and applied in September. Should have applied earlier but I got myself confused with the information. I’m back at work first week of November.

I have an account and the funded hours code but can’t see how i apply for the tax free childcare account

As far as I’m aware it’s the same account. If you’ve a code then your eligible for TFC. Is there an add money function once you have logged in?

www.gov.uk/apply-for-tax-free-childcare

That's ok, you applied for it at the right time, quite early in fact! You wouldn't have been eligible until January anyway with the November start date. Just don't forget to reconfirm in December otherwise you'll lose eligibility.

No I can’t see this, it’s driving me mad lol

Thank you - i can get to here. When i start the steps, it asks me to login to my government gateway and once I’m into my account is where i get stuck as there is nothing to indicate a tax free childcare account

Thank you! I’ve put reminders in my phone 😅

Update: in case anyone was wondering. I spoke to HMRC this morning. I cannot apply for tax free childcare until reconfirmation as when applying for the funded hours I was receiving childcare vouchers. Even if the vouchers are cancelled there is not a mechanism to apply for tax free childcare before reconfirmation :-/