Family Boost

All you need to know about Family Boost for New Zealand families

Family Boost is a New Zealand government initiative designed to help families manage the rising costs of early childhood education (ECE). Here’s what young and first-time parents need to know:

What is Family Boost?
Family Boost provides retrospective quarterly reimbursements to eligible households for up to 25% of their early childhood education fees, after accounting for existing subsidies like 20 Hours Free ECE and MSD Childcare Subsidy.

Key features:

  • Maximum refund: $975 every three months ($75/week equivalent)
  • Covers fees from licensed ECE providers
  • Payments made directly to families’ bank accounts

Who qualifies?

You may be eligible if:

  • You care for at least one child aged 5 or younger
  • Household income is below:
  • $180,000 annually OR
    • $45,000 per quarter
  • Using a licensed ECE service
  • Are a NZ tax residen

Separated caregivers can both claim if they:

  • Share day-to-day care responsibilities
  • Maintain separate invoices for their ECE costs

Payment amounts

  • Household Income: up to $140k. Max Weekly Rebate = $75. Quarterly Payment = $975
  • Household Income: up to $150k. Max Weekly Rebate = $56.25. Quarterly Payment = $731.25
  • Household Income: up to $160k. Max Weekly Rebate = $37.50. Quarterly Payment = $487.50
  • Household Income: up to $170k. Max Weekly Rebate = $18.75. Quarterly Payment = $243.78
  • Income Over $180k: Not Eligible

Example: A family earning $125k spending $300/week on ECE gets the full $75 weekly rebate

How to claim

  1. Register in myIR (requires IRD numbers for all children)
  2. Save invoices (July 2024 onward) as PDF/JPEG
  3. Submit claims quarterly starting 1 Oct 2024 for:
    • July-Sept 2024
    • Oct-Dec 2024
    • Jan-Mar 2025
    • Apr-Jun 2025

Payments typically arrive within 15 business days of claim submission

More Resources:

  1. IRD FamilyBoost Hub – Official eligibility checker and registration
  2. Education Counts ECE Checker – Verify provider licenses
  3. Beehive Announcement – Government rollout details
  4. Budget 2024 Summary – Policy background
  5. Family Boost Overview: Helping Families with Childcare Costs
  6. Family Boost childcare payment registrations open
  7. How to prepare for FamilyBoost with Discover by Xplor
  8. Can you get Family Boost? – Inland Revenue
  9. Family Boost – National Party
  10. [PDF] Family Boost – questions and answers pdf – Tax Policy
  11. Family Boost payments make ECE more affordable – Beehive.govt.nz
  12. Family Boost: Information for Parents and Caregivers – Campbell Tyson
  13. Introducing FamilyBoost – Budget 2024 – 30 May 2024
  14. FamilyBoost – Inland Revenue
  15. New to FamilyBoost – Inland Revenue
  16. FamilyBoost payment – Work and Income
  17. FamilyBoost | What it is and how to register and claim – YouTube
  18. FamilyBoost payment registrations are open. Families can now get …
  19. FamilyBoost Childcare Tax Credit – The Office of ECE
  20. [PDF] FAMILYBOOST – Beehive.govt.nz
  21. Guidance on FamilyBoost | Early Childhood Council
  22. Family Boost – tax credit for childcare costs
  23. FamilyBoost tax rebate: Childcare subsidy calculations catch family out
  24. Help paying for childcare | New Zealand Government
  25. 30000 households get FamilyBoost payments – Beehive.govt.nz
  26. Family Boost Childcare Payment – Whutuporo – Awesome Accountants
  27. Kiwis flock to claim FamilyBoost – Beehive.govt.nz
  28. FamilyBoost will ease pressure on young families – Times
  29. Family Boost | Evans & Co Accountants & Advisors
  30. Boost to family payments from today – Inside Government NZ
  31. Changes to calculating FamilyBoost payments – Gilligan Sheppard
  32. Fewer than half of families eligible for FamilyBoost get payments