The Child Care Rebate helps working families with the cost of child care. The Child Care Rebate covers 50 per cent of out-of-pocket child care expenses for approved child care, with a rebate of up to $7,778 (indexed) per child per year, for eligible families.
For more information, contact us.
If you would like information about approved child care services and vacancies in your local area, contact the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305* or search the My Child website.
*Free call unless from a mobile or pay phone.
Can I get the Child Care Rebate?
There are certain requirements you must meet to get the Child Care Rebate.
You must have:
- used approved child care during the year;
- been eligible for Child Care Benefit (entitled at a rate of zero or more)*;
- passed the Child Care Benefit work, training, study test (for the purposes of the rebate).
*Note: There is no income test for the Child Care Rebate. If you are eligible for Child Care Benefit, but your Child Care Benefit entitlement is zero due to income, you are still eligible for the Child Care Rebate.
How much Child Care Rebate can I get?
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can get 50 per cent of your out-of-pocket expenses for approved care up to a maximum of $7,778 (indexed) per child per year. Out-of-pocket expenses are the total fees you had to pay for child care expenses for approved care, less the amount of Child Care Benefit and Jobs, Education and Training Child Care fee assistance (if applicable) you received.
How can I get paid?
Quarterly payments will be paid once we have received child care usage/attendance details from your approved child care service/s. Quarterly payments will be paid to you automatically if you receive your Child Care Benefit as reduced fees, at zero rate, or more than zero rate.
At the end of the financial year, the Child Care Rebate will be reconciled against your actual income and adjusted for the financial year. Payment of the last quarter of the Child Care Rebate will be 'held' until Child Care Benefit reconciliation occurs (when your tax returns have been lodged and all your child care usage/attendance information has been received). This will then be used in any adjustments as part of the reconciliation. The Child Care Rebate entitlement is paid directly into your bank account by the Family Assistance Office.
If you want to receive your Child Care Rebate as a quarterly payment, you must claim Child Care Benefit as reduced fees, even if you are eligible for Child Care Benefit but your Child Care Benefit entitlement is zero due to income.
You can choose to receive your Child Care Rebate annually at any time by contacting the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150.
Note: The Child Care Rebate is based on your Child Care Benefit entitlement. If you choose to claim Child Care Benefit as a lump sum payment, you will not receive your Child Care Rebate entitlement until the end of that year, once your Child Care Benefit entitlement has been determined.
Child Care Tax Rebate claiming arrangements for 2006-07 and 2007-08
For these years, your Child Care Tax Rebate entitlement is an annual payment into your bank account. For 2006-07 the limit is $4 211. For 2007-08 the limit is $4 354.
Note: For Child Care Tax Rebate claims prior to 2006-07, please visit the Australian Taxation Office website or call 13 28 61.
What if I did not get CCB for previous years?
If you have identified that you are eligible for Child Care Benefit for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 financial years, but have not received it, you can lodge a lump sum claim for each period with the Family Assistance Office. You must do this within two years of the end of the financial year for which you are claiming. Once you have received your Child Care Benefit entitlement, you are then eligible for the Child Care Tax Rebate if you used approved care and were working, training or studying.
Using Online Services
You can access Online Services which allows you to view and print details you may need in order to claim the Child Care Tax Rebate from the Australian Taxation Office for child care costs incurred in 2005-06.
If you are using Online Services for the first time, you need to register to get a Customer Access Number (CAN) and password. Once you have registered, you can logon and use all appropriate Online Services.