familyestimate

AUSTRALIAN FAMILY PAYMENTS

Child Care Subsidy Calculator

Estimate Child Care Subsidy and your childcare costs. Compare income scenarios to see how your costs change.

Rules checked
30 September 2026
Independent planning tool, not a Centrelink decision. Estimates assume payment eligibility; check residency, waiting periods and other requirements with Services Australia.

1. Your household

All amounts in AUD

Use annual adjusted taxable income (ATI), not take-home pay. ATI can include reportable fringe benefits, extra super contributions, investment losses and foreign income.

2. Your children

Enter children aged 0–15 in your full-time care. Set childcare days to 0 if they don't use approved care. Ages and circumstances are held constant for annual projections.

Withholding affects what you pay now. Its final treatment depends on end-of-year balancing.

Compare another income scenario

Only incomes change; childcare and family circumstances stay the same.

Example values to start. Your entries stay in this page and are not saved or sent by the calculator.

Your estimate

Planning estimate only

CCS is paid to your childcare provider. Weekly and annual childcare estimates assume 52 identical weeks, with the same fees, sessions and eligibility.

How this estimate works

What’s included

Standard and higher sibling CCS, hourly caps, 72/100-hour limits, withholding and childcare out-of-pocket costs.

What needs a separate assessment

Shared care, Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS), In Home Care, debts, absences and combined-family complexities require a separate assessment. Confirm your eligibility and approved hours with Services Australia.

Official rules & verification

    Rates are a fixed 2026–27 snapshot, not an automatic live feed. Recheck the official rules before making decisions or using this for another financial year.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do I estimate my out-of-pocket childcare cost?

    Enter household income and each child’s fee, session hours and attendance days. The calculator estimates CCS using the included hourly caps, eligible hours and withholding, then shows the remaining childcare cost.

    Can I compare childcare costs for two children?

    Yes. Add each child’s details to compare the standard subsidy and higher sibling subsidy where applicable. Age and family eligibility can affect which child receives the higher rate.

    Why can my actual childcare bill differ from this estimate?

    Provider fees, approved subsidised hours, absences, eligibility changes and end-of-year reconciliation can change the result. The annual estimate assumes 52 identical weeks; check actual charges with your provider.

    Explore our CCS calculator, family payment and after-tax estimate, NDIS budget calculator, Age Pension calculator and Centrelink payment estimates.