Tax free childcare information for providers
Why should providers sign up to tax free childcare?
To get payments through Tax-Free Childcare, you must sign up as a registered provider. You should get an invitation letter with a unique ID required for registration.
The sign-up process is simple. It takes less than 10 minutes. After you're registered, parents can add you to their account. They can start paying you directly through the Tax-Free Childcare system.
How can you tell which child a payment is for once signing up?
Each payment includes a unique child reference number. The reference number will appear in your bank account. This reference is given to parents in their welcome pack when they register.
Each reference is made up of:
- The first letter of the child’s first name
- The first three letters of their surname
- A five-digit number
- Followed by ‘TFC’
For example, a child named John Smith might have the reference: JSMI12345TFC
Parents can give you the reference number. You can use it to match payments to the correct child. If you’re unsure who a payment is for, you can use the Payment reconciliation form.
What to do if parents are trying to pay you through Tax-Free Childcare and can not find your business when they search the business name?
It is possible that your regulator has designated you as a sensitive provider. This often applies to childminders who work from home. In these cases, an extra layer of security is added to the system. This means parents can't find you by name alone. They’ll need to search using your regulator ID and postcode. If you believe you’ve been marked as a sensitive provider in error, you should get in touch with your regulator.
How to find your regulator ID?
If you’re unsure of your regulator ID, visit your regulator’s website for information on how to find it.
How to find your user ID, if you have forgotten or lost it?
You can contact the Childcare Service Helpline on 0300 123 4097.
What should you do if you have not had an invitation to sign up for Tax - Free Childcare?
To get an invitation to Tax-Free Childcare, you must be registered with the relevant regulator, such as Ofsted. The invitation will include your unique user ID and other details needed to register. If you're registered with your regulator, the invitation should have been sent to your setting's address.
If you haven't received it, contact the Childcare Service Helpline on 0300 123 4097. They will send it again. If you share your setting address with another organisation, like a church hall or school, ask for your user ID be sent by recorded delivery. It should be clearly marked for your attention.
How to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare if you are a nanny?
To sign up for Tax-Free Childcare, you must be a nanny registered or approved by a UK regulatory authority. For more information, see Become a childminder or nanny.
Registration with the UK regulatory authority can take up to 12 weeks. There are both registration and annual fees. Once registered, you will get a letter inviting you to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare.
If you're already registered, you should get an invitation letter. If you haven’t got it or have lost it, contact the Childcare Service Helpline on 0300 123 4097.
What to do if you have not received a payment that a parent has made?
Payments from parent childcare accounts are processed via bank transfer. Payments are made on working days. They should appear in your account within 24 hours of being sent from the parent's account. This may vary depending on your bank.
Payments over £2,000 are made by BACS transfer. These can take about three working days to reach your account.