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FamilyBoost — the 25% childcare rebate, in plain English

FamilyBoost is an IRD rebate covering 25% of weekly ECE fees, up to a maximum of $75/week per family ($1,200/quarter). It started in mid-2024 and is claimed quarterly through myIR. The maximum dollar saving depends on the fees you pay — which means the rebate is worth more in higher-fee suburbs.

How FamilyBoost works

  • Rate: 25% of weekly ECE fees, after 20 Hours ECE has been applied.
  • Cap: $75/week per family ($1,200/quarter). This is a household cap, not per child — large families with two kids in care still share the same cap.
  • Income phase-out: taper begins at $140,000 household income and the rebate hits $0 at $180,000.
  • Claimed quarterly via myIR. You upload your invoices; IRD pays directly into your bank account.
  • Eligible at every licensed ECE service in NZ — kindergartens, education & care, home-based, kōhanga reo, playcentres. Not playgroups (they're unlicensed).

How FamilyBoost stacks with other subsidies

FamilyBoost stacks with 20 Hours ECE and the Childcare Subsidy. The cleanest mental model:

  1. Centre charges a gross weekly fee, e.g. $320/week for a 3-year-old.
  2. 20 Hours ECE removes the cost of the first 20 funded hours.
  3. Childcare Subsidy (if eligible) reduces the remaining hourly cost.
  4. FamilyBoost rebates 25% of what you still pay, up to $75/week.

The FamilyBoost calculator models this stack and tells you the net out-of-pocket per week.

Where you'll see the biggest dollar saving

The $75/week cap means anyone paying $300+/week in fees hits the cap. In lower-fee parts of NZ (kindergarten-dominant suburbs, kōhanga reo, smaller towns), the 25% rebate is smaller in dollar terms because the fees are smaller — but it's still 25% off.

The faceted list below shows the suburbs where FamilyBoost is most likely to hit the full $75/week cap, computed from the share of full-day centres in each suburb.

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting to claim quarterly. FamilyBoost is not automatic — you have to upload invoices to myIR each quarter. Set a calendar reminder for the start of April, July, October, and January.
  • Assuming "free 20 Hours" means no FamilyBoost. If your kindergarten charges any optional fee (excursions, lunches), that portion is still eligible.
  • Counting it twice in a household. FamilyBoost is per family, not per child. Two siblings in care share one $75/week cap.

Top 20 suburbs where FamilyBoost is most likely to hit the $75/week cap

Computed from 4,375 licensed ECE services in the MoE directory. Updated on every deploy.

  1. Henderson — 42 education & care centres · 78% of suburb
  2. Manurewa — 38 education & care centres · 70% of suburb
  3. Papatoetoe — 32 education & care centres · 82% of suburb
  4. Mangere — 28 education & care centres · 67% of suburb
  5. Hamilton Central — 25 education & care centres · 66% of suburb
  6. Avondale — 16 education & care centres · 94% of suburb
  7. Albany — 20 education & care centres · 74% of suburb
  8. Remuera — 18 education & care centres · 82% of suburb
  9. Mangere East — 21 education & care centres · 68% of suburb
  10. Glen Eden — 17 education & care centres · 77% of suburb
  11. Flat Bush — 16 education & care centres · 80% of suburb
  12. New Lynn — 13 education & care centres · 93% of suburb
  13. Pukekohe West — 12 education & care centres · 100% of suburb
  14. Papamoa — 18 education & care centres · 67% of suburb
  15. Pakuranga — 15 education & care centres · 79% of suburb
  16. Glenfield — 16 education & care centres · 73% of suburb
  17. Halswell — 14 education & care centres · 78% of suburb
  18. Rotorua Central — 13 education & care centres · 81% of suburb
  19. Massey — 14 education & care centres · 74% of suburb
  20. St Albans — 12 education & care centres · 86% of suburb

Or filter the directory directly: All education & care centres · Centres taking under-2s · Use the FamilyBoost calculator

Frequently asked questions

Is FamilyBoost income-tested? +
Yes. The full 25% rebate applies up to $140,000 household income. It tapers between $140k and $180k, hitting $0 at $180,000.
Can I claim FamilyBoost on a kindergarten that's already free under 20 Hours ECE? +
You can claim 25% of any fee you actually pay (excursions, lunches, optional charges). If your kindy is genuinely $0/week, there's nothing to rebate — but most centres charge something.
Does FamilyBoost apply to playcentres or playgroups? +
It applies to playcentres (which are licensed). It does NOT apply to playgroups, which are unlicensed.
How long does the IRD payment take? +
Once you submit a quarterly claim through myIR, IRD typically pays within 5-15 working days.
What invoices do I need? +
A receipt from the licensed ECE service showing the dates of care, the fees paid, and the service's name + IRD/MoE identifier. Most centres provide quarterly statements that meet the requirement.
Is FamilyBoost taxable income? +
No. It's a tax credit refunded as cash and is not counted as taxable income for the recipient family.

Related topics

20 Hours ECE — what it covers and where to find it

The 20 Hours ECE scheme funds up to 20 hours of licensed early childhood education per week for 3-5 year olds, with most teacher-led centres opting in. Find centres in your suburb that offer it.

Teacher:child ratios in NZ early childhood services

The legal teacher:child ratios for NZ licensed ECE services, how they vary by age, why ratios matter, and how to ask a centre about their actual operating ratios (which are often better than the legal minimum).

Equity Index funding — how MoE supports centres in higher-need communities

The Equity Index replaces decile funding for NZ schools and is increasingly used to direct ECE funding to centres serving children from higher-needs communities. Here's how it works and which suburbs have the most equity-funded centres.

Home-based vs centre-based ECE — choosing the right model

Compare home-based ECE (1:4 educator at home) with centre-based education & care (1:5 under-2 / 1:10 over-2 in licensed premises) on cost, ratios, hours, continuity of carer, and which suits your family.