Eligibility for 15 childcare hours for 2025/26 tax year

kangaroo19 · 13 March 2025 at 1:43PM

Hi all,

I have a 2yo who has been in nursery since November, and I have been paying all fees as my income will be 105k after pension payments for the 2024/25 tax year (it's 97k as at today). It's too late for me to make a contribution to pension to bring it down as I need the extra money for house renovations...

However, for the next tax year, my income will be at or below the 100k mark as I will not be getting a bonus, and I will be upping my pension. I have gone through the application to apply for the childcare code, but am stuck at the question:

Do you expect to have a taxable income of more than £100,000 for the current tax year?

For this year, yes. However, the next term starts in the new tax year from April 12th where I will not have TI of more than 100k. Any ideas how I should answer? If I say yes, I will not be eligible, but if I say no will the Govt. check my taxable income for this year and deny it? The code application cut-off is 31 March, so just before the next tax year, making the timing very tricky...

Thanks!