UK / Checker
Childcare vouchers payslip checker
Legacy childcare vouchers (closed to new joiners since October 2018, but still active for existing members) reduce taxable AND NIable pay through salary sacrifice. The tax-free amount depends on your tax band: £55/week basic, £28/week higher, £25/week additional. PayslipIQ checks whether your scheme is set up correctly.
Educational guidance only. PayslipIQ is not HMRC, your employer, a payroll provider, tax adviser, financial adviser, pension adviser or legal adviser. Always verify with payroll or HMRC before acting.
The problem
Childcare vouchers are one of the most opaque payslip lines. The scheme reduces gross pay before tax and NI, but only up to a band-specific cap. Above the cap, the excess is taxable and NIable as normal salary.
Common errors: the cap was set incorrectly when you joined, your basic-rate cap stayed in place after you crossed into the higher-rate band, the sacrifice was not reflected in NIable pay, or the scheme was not closed correctly when you switched to Tax-Free Childcare.
Plain-English explanation
For existing childcare-voucher members the 2026/27 tax-free caps are:
- Basic-rate taxpayer: £55/week (£243/month).
- Higher-rate taxpayer: £28/week (£124/month).
- Additional-rate taxpayer: £25/week (£110/month).
The cap is determined by a "basic earnings assessment" (BEA) at the start of the tax year. Your employer estimates your taxable earnings for the year and slots you into a band. If your salary or bonus crosses a band threshold mid-year, the cap usually stays for the current year and resets in April.
Childcare vouchers cannot be combined with Tax-Free Childcare from the government — you must pick one. New joiners have only Tax-Free Childcare available since October 2018. Existing voucher members can continue while their employer runs the scheme.
Worked example - £40,000 with £243/month vouchers
- Annual gross £40,000
- BEA result: basic-rate taxpayer (cap £243/month)
- Vouchers sacrificed: £243/month
- Reduces taxable pay by £243/month
- Reduces NIable pay by £243/month
- Tax saving: £243 × 20% × 12 = £583/year
- NI saving: £243 × 8% × 12 = £233/year
- Total annual saving: ~£816
Worked example uses 2026/27 UK figures and is illustrative. Do not use it as a personal tax calculation.
Apply this to your own payslip
Get your figures checked in plain English
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Check My Payslip FreeStep by step
Find the voucher line
Look for "childcare vouchers" or "salary sacrifice — childcare" on your payslip. It should sit before tax and reduce both taxable and NIable pay.
Confirm the cap matches your band
Basic £55/week, higher £28/week, additional £25/week. The cap is set by a basic earnings assessment at the start of the year.
Reconcile to taxable + NIable pay
Both should be lower than gross pay by the voucher amount. If only taxable is reduced, the NI saving is missing.
Plan a switch to Tax-Free Childcare
You cannot use both. Compare which scheme saves more — vouchers usually win for high earners with one child; TFC for multiple kids.
Run a free PayslipIQ check
Upload your redacted payslip or enter the figures manually for a per-line second opinion.
What to ask payroll
- What was the basic earnings assessment result for me this tax year?
- What weekly / monthly cap am I on for childcare vouchers?
- Is the voucher reducing both my taxable and NIable pay correctly?
- When did my voucher scheme start, and is it still open or closed to new joiners?
- How do I switch to Tax-Free Childcare if I want to leave the voucher scheme?
When to contact HMRC
- Use gov.uk/childcare-account to check eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare and apply.
- Once on Tax-Free Childcare you cannot return to vouchers — confirm the trade-off before switching.
- For prior-year tax issues caused by an incorrect voucher cap, raise via your gov.uk personal tax account.
FAQ
- Can I still join childcare vouchers?
- No. The scheme closed to new joiners on 4 October 2018. Existing members can continue while their employer offers it.
- How much can I sacrifice?
- Up to £55/week (basic), £28/week (higher), £25/week (additional). The cap is set by a basic earnings assessment at the start of each tax year.
- Do childcare vouchers save NI as well as tax?
- Yes. Salary-sacrifice childcare vouchers reduce both taxable and NIable pay, so they save income tax AND employee NI.
- Can I use both vouchers and Tax-Free Childcare?
- No. You have to pick one. Switching from vouchers to TFC is one-way — you cannot return.
- What happens if my income crosses a band mid-year?
- The cap usually stays for the rest of the current tax year. The basic earnings assessment refreshes in April.
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Educational guidance only. PayslipIQ provides an educational second opinion based on the figures you supply and the public 2026/27 UK PAYE, NI, pension and student-loan rules. PayslipIQ is not affiliated with HMRC and is not a regulated tax, legal, financial, payroll or employment adviser. Verify any final figure with your payroll team, HMRC, your pension provider or a qualified professional before acting.
Published 2026-05-10. Last reviewed 2026-05-10. See our methodology and payslip processing privacy notice.