Childcare can be one of the biggest expenses for families with young children, and that’s where FamilyBoost comes in.
FamilyBoost is a quarterly payment from Inland Revenue that helps eligible households with the cost of early childhood education (ECE). If you’re caring for a child aged 5 or under, you could get up to 25% of your ECE fees back, with a maximum of $975 every 3 months.
Here’s everything you need to know:
What is FamilyBoost?
FamilyBoost is designed to make licensed childcare more affordable by giving families a refund on some of their ECE costs. It’s paid quarterly, and can include:
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Regular ECE fees
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Optional charges like excursions, teaching resources, food, nappies, sunscreen, transport, and more
You need to submit a claim each quarter:
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July – September
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October – December
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January – March
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April – June
The maximum you can get is $975 per quarter.
Can You Get FamilyBoost?
You may be eligible for FamilyBoost if:
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You care for a child (or children) aged 5 years or under
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You’re a New Zealand tax resident
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You’ve paid for care with a licensed ECE provider
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Your household income is under $45,000 per quarter
How much can you get?
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If your income is under $35,000/quarter, you can claim 25% of your ECE fees, up to $975
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If your income is between $35,000–$45,000/quarter, your claim reduces gradually
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If your income is over $45,000/quarter, you won’t be eligible that quarter
Eligibility is reviewed every quarter, so even if you miss out one quarter, you may qualify the next.
How to Register for FamilyBoost
You need to register in myIR before you can claim.
What you’ll need:
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Your partner’s full name, date of birth and IRD number (if you have one)
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Your child(ren)’s full name, date of birth and IRD number
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Your NZ bank account number
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Your ECE provider’s name, address, and licence number (You can find these on Education Counts)
How to register:
- Log in to myIR
- Select ‘I want to…’
- Click ‘Register for FamilyBoost’
- Fill in and submit your details
Once you’re registered, a FamilyBoost account will appear in myIR.
How to Claim FamilyBoost
You need to submit a new claim every 3 months.
Before claiming, make sure you have:
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Invoices or quarterly statement from your ECE provider (PDF is best, but clear images are okay)
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Your partner’s and child(ren)’s info
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Your ECE provider’s details
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Your bank account number
Steps to claim:
- Go to your FamilyBoost account in myIR
- Click ‘Claim FamilyBoost’
- Enter your details and upload your invoices or statement
- Confirm and submit your claim
✅ You can include optional charges like excursions, food, nappies, sunscreen, and transport
❌ You can’t claim for donations, fundraising items, goodwill payments, or parking leases
If you’re claiming for a past quarter, go to the ‘FamilyBoost periods’ section and choose the right timeframe.
Shared Care or Special Cases
Separated caregivers in different households can both claim, as long as they:
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Share some day-to-day care
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Each have ECE costs
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Provide separate invoices
Only one person per household can register and submit the claim.
A Few Final Tips
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You must lodge a claim every quarter, it doesn’t roll over automatically
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If your household income changes, your eligibility may change each quarter
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You don’t need to re-register each time, just claim through your FamilyBoost account in myIR
Ready to Get Started?
If you think you might be eligible, simply log in to myIR to register and start your claim. All the information you need is included above, and IRD provides clear step-by-step guidance within the portal.