Coming soon • Testing with HMRCAccept Tax-Free Childcare Without the Paperwork Chase
Let parents pay invoices in seconds directly from their government Tax-Free Childcare account. Funds arrive straight into your bank via BACS, with real-time settlement tracking and one-tap reconciliation.
From £139/yr, 7-day free trial • Cancel anytime
The Solution to the Tax-Free Childcare Headaches
Bottom Line Up Front: Tax-Free Childcare saves families up to £2,000 per child each year, making registered childminders more affordable. But without direct software integration, childminders are forced to wait for unreferenced bank deposits, check bank statements manually, and chase parents for proof.
KinderStart connects directly to HMRC’s Tax-Free Childcare API. Parents link their account once and pay invoices inside the app with full balance visibility. You receive direct BACS deposits and instant audit trails without ever sharing bank account numbers or handling paper forms.
Built for Serious Early Years Professionals
Everything childminders and parents need for smooth, auditable, and automated government payments.
Direct HMRC Government Gateway Integration
Direct BACS Payouts to Your Bank
Automatic Invoice Reconciliation
Regulatory Readiness Guard
Two-Sided SimplicityHow it works for parents and for you
See how the end-to-end payment loop operates from both perspectives.
The Parent Journey
Pay straight from the KinderStart Parent Portal
Connect Government Gateway Once
Authenticate securely through HMRC’s official portal and enter your child’s Tax-Free Childcare reference code (e.g. MPHI12345TFC).
Real-Time Balance Check
KinderStart instantly queries your cleared government funds and 20% state top-up so you see exactly how much is available before paying.
One-Tap Payment Instruction
Pay the full monthly invoice or allocate a partial amount with a single tap. Parents can split a payment between Tax-Free Childcare and another method.
The Childminder Experience
Direct deposits and clean invoice reconciliation
Set Your Regulatory Details
Enter your region (England, Scotland, or Wales), your Ofsted / CIW / Care Inspectorate number, and setting postcode in Business Settings.
Receive Official HMRC Instructions
When a parent pays, the invoice updates immediately to Tax-Free Childcare Pending with the official HMRC payment reference and estimated settlement date.
One-Tap Receipt Confirmation
Once BACS funds clear in your registered bank account (2–3 working days), confirm receipt with one tap to generate statutory audit receipts.
Manual Chasing vs. KinderStart Automation
Why leading UK childminders are moving their parents to integrated Tax-Free Childcare payments.
| Key Feature | Traditional Manual Way | KinderStart Integration |
|---|---|---|
| Payment Friction for Parents | Log into gov portal, manually type childminder details & references | One-tap in the KinderStart parent app directly from invoice |
| Reference Errors & Misallocated Funds | Frequent typo errors lead to bounced or delayed BACS credits | Zero typos — validated directly via HMRC API integration |
| Settlement Transparency | Childminder doesn’t know payment was made until days later | Instant instruction notification with HMRC payment reference |
| Partial & Split Payments | Messy manual tracking across spreadsheets and notebooks | Built-in payment allocation ledger tracks remaining balances |
| Banking Security | Sharing sort codes and account numbers over text or WhatsApp | Bank details never shared — HMRC deposits directly via BACS |
Zero Client Money Risk — Complete Regulatory Safety
No Platform Holding
KinderStart is an instruction platform, never an escrow or payment gateway. We never hold, route, or delay your childcare fees.
Direct BACS Transfer
Funds move directly from HMRC’s banking partner into your registered provider bank account, protected by standard UK bank clearing rules.
Encrypted OAuth Tokens
Parent credentials never touch our servers. Authentications are handled securely via HMRC Government Gateway with encrypted token storage at rest.
Frequently Asked Questions