FamilyBoost childcare payment

Inland RevenueVerified 14 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

FamilyBoost is a childcare payment from Inland Revenue (IRD). It helps families pay for a child at a licensed early childhood education (ECE) service, such as daycare or kindy. If your child is 5 or under and your household income is less than NZ$57,286 a quarter, you can claim back part of your ECE fees each quarter in myIR. You can get up to NZ$1,560 a quarter.

Key facts

Child's age: 5 or under (until the day before their 6th birthday)¹
Household income limit: Household income less than NZ$57,286 a quarter²
Other conditions: You are the child's caregiver, you pay fees to a licensed early childhood education (ECE) service, and you are a New Zealand tax resident²
Who in the household applies: The payment is per household, not per child. If you have a partner, only 1 of you can register¹
Payment rate: Household income less than NZ$35,000 a quarter: you can claim up to 40% of your ECE fees³
Maximum per quarter: NZ$1,560³
Income between NZ$35,000 and NZ$57,286: You get the lower of: 40% of the fees you claim; or NZ$1,560 minus 7 cents for every NZ$1 of income over NZ$35,000³
Claim quarters: 1 July–30 September, 1 October–31 December, 1 January–31 March, 1 April–30 June³
How household income is worked out: Income taxed before you get it (such as salary or wages): your income for that quarter. Other income (such as self-employment or schedular payments): the income in your most recent income tax return ÷ 4. If you have both, the higher amount is used³
Time limit to claim: Up to 4 years⁵
Payment time: Most refunds are paid within 15 working days⁵

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

You are the caregiver of a child aged 5 or under (until the day before the child's 6th birthday).
Your household income is less than NZ$57,286 a quarter (for quarters ending before 1 July 2025, the limit was less than NZ$45,000).
Your child goes to a licensed ECE provider and you pay fees. You can check whether a provider is licensed on the Education Counts website.
You are a New Zealand tax resident. The official rules talk about tax residency, not visa type. If you are not sure whether you are a tax resident, ask Inland Revenue.
If you have a partner, only 1 of you can register.
Caregivers who live apart can each claim if they both care for the child day to day, both pay ECE fees, and can each provide their own invoices.
You must have a myIR account.

How do I do it? Steps and process

Check you are eligible and estimate the amount
Check the rules on age, household income, licensed ECE and tax residency. Use the FamilyBoost calculator on the Inland Revenue website to estimate how much you could get.
Register for FamilyBoost in myIR (only once)
Log in to myIR, choose 'I want to...', then 'Register for FamilyBoost'. Fill in your details and submit. You can also add your ECE provider's name, address and licence number now, which makes claiming easier. After Inland Revenue confirms your registration, a FamilyBoost account will appear in myIR.
Claim after each quarter ends
You can claim any time after a quarter ends. You must claim each quarter separately. You cannot claim before the quarter has finished. In your FamilyBoost account in myIR, choose 'Claim FamilyBoost' and fill in the details. To claim for an earlier quarter, click 'FamilyBoost periods' and find that quarter.
Upload your invoices or quarterly statement
Upload your ECE invoices or your quarterly FamilyBoost statement. If you have a quarterly statement, use that. You do not need to send both. PDF files are best; use images only if you cannot upload a PDF. Then choose whether to send the FamilyBoost payment to another IRD number or account, check everything and submit.
Wait for your refund and add anything you missed
Most claims are paid within 15 working days. It can take longer if Inland Revenue needs more information or if your income tax return is still being processed. If you forgot to include invoices in a claim, use 'Update a claim' to add them. You cannot get more than the maximum amount you are entitled to.

What documents do I need?

Your child's full name, date of birth and IRD number
Your partner's full name, date of birth and IRD number (if you have a partner)
A New Zealand bank account
Your ECE provider's name, address and licence number (called 'institution number' on the Education Counts website)
ECE invoices or your quarterly FamilyBoost statement

What should I watch out for?

You can only claim fees you must pay. Optional charges, such as meals and nappies, can be included. Donations and subsidies cannot. For example, you must take off any Childcare Subsidy from Work and Income first.
Each quarter is worked out separately. If your household income changes from quarter to quarter, the amount you get can change too.
If you have other income, such as self-employment income, you must file your income tax return before you can claim FamilyBoost.
If you upload photos, make sure all the required information is clear. If your phone has a 'live' photo feature, turn it off before taking the photo.
If you forget to claim, you can still claim each quarter for up to 4 years.
This is a plain-English summary of public rules. It is not tax or immigration advice. Inland Revenue makes the final decision on your claim.

What has changed recently?

2025-07-01
For quarters ending after 1 July 2025 (from the July–September 2025 quarter): the payment rate went up from 25% to 40%; the maximum per quarter went up from NZ$975 to NZ$1,560; the household income limit went up from NZ$45,000 to NZ$57,286 a quarter; and the reduction for income over NZ$35,000 went down from 9.75 cents to 7 cents for every NZ$1.Source: ird.govt.nz ↗

Common questions

What is FamilyBoost and how do I apply?

FamilyBoost is a childcare payment from Inland Revenue that helps families pay fees at a licensed early childhood education (ECE) service for a child aged 5 or under. You need a myIR account. Register once in myIR by choosing 'I want to...', then 'Register for FamilyBoost'. After each quarter ends, choose 'Claim FamilyBoost' in your FamilyBoost account and upload your ECE invoices or quarterly FamilyBoost statement.

How much of my daycare fees will the NZ government pay back?

If your household income is less than NZ$35,000 a quarter, you can claim up to 40% of your ECE fees, up to NZ$1,560 a quarter. If your income is between NZ$35,000 and NZ$57,286, you get the lower of 40% of the fees you claim, or NZ$1,560 minus 7 cents for every NZ$1 of income over NZ$35,000. The daycare must be a licensed ECE service.

What is the household income limit for FamilyBoost?

Your household income must be less than NZ$57,286 a quarter. For quarters ending before 1 July 2025, the limit was less than NZ$45,000 a quarter. Each quarter is worked out separately, so the amount you get can change if your income changes.

What is the most I can get from FamilyBoost each quarter?

The most you can get is NZ$1,560 a quarter. The payment is per household, not per child. If your household income is over NZ$35,000 a quarter, the maximum is reduced by 7 cents for every NZ$1 of income over NZ$35,000.

I forgot to claim FamilyBoost last quarter. Can I still claim it?

Yes. You can still claim each quarter for up to 4 years. In your FamilyBoost account in myIR, click 'FamilyBoost periods' and find that quarter. You must claim each quarter separately. If you forgot to include invoices in a claim, use 'Update a claim' to add them.

Can I get FamilyBoost if I am on a work visa?

It depends on your tax residency, not your visa type. You must be a New Zealand tax resident to get FamilyBoost. You must also meet the other rules on your child's age, household income and licensed ECE fees. If you are not sure whether you are a tax resident, ask Inland Revenue.

How long does a FamilyBoost refund take?

Most refunds are paid within 15 working days. It can take longer if Inland Revenue needs more information from you. It can also take longer if your income tax return is still being processed.

How is household income worked out for FamilyBoost if I am self-employed?

For self-employment income, Inland Revenue uses the income in your most recent income tax return divided by 4. If you also have income taxed before you get it, such as wages, the higher amount is used. You must file your income tax return before you can claim FamilyBoost.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

FamilyBoost overviewInland Revenue · ird.govt.nz
Can you get FamilyBoost?Inland Revenue · ird.govt.nz
How much FamilyBoost can you claimInland Revenue · ird.govt.nz
Register for FamilyBoostInland Revenue · ird.govt.nz
Claim your FamilyBoostInland Revenue · ird.govt.nz

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