What is Child Care Rebate?

On 1 July 2009, the Child Care Tax Rebate was re-named the Child Care Rebate. The name change is in recognition that the rebate is no longer a tax offset under taxation legislation but is paid to families under the Family Assistance Law by the Family Assistance Office. There is no change to your eligibility or entitlements.

The Child Care Rebate is a payment from the Australian Government that helps working families with the cost of child care. This is a separate payment from Child Care Benefit.

If you are using approved child care for work, training or study related reasons, the government will provide you with 50 per cent of your out-of-pocket child care costs, up to $7778 (indexed) for each child each year. 

Am I eligible for the Child Care Rebate?

To get the Child Care Rebate you must have:

  • used approved child care; and
  • been eligible for Child Care Benefit (entitled at rate of zero or more)*; and
  • (or your partner)passed the Child Care Benefit work, training, study test (for the purposes of the Child Care Rebate).

*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 can I get more information?

For information about Child Care Rebate and the amounts paid please see the Information for families using child care fact sheet kit and look for:

  • Fact Sheet 10 - What is Child Care Rebate
  • Fact Sheet 7 - What is the Child Care Benefit work, training, study test?

For further information about the Child Care Rebate please visit the Family Assistance Office website or call 13 61 50.

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