Guidance

Challenge a Childcare Service application decision

Ask HMRC to review your Tax-Free Childcare or free childcare for working parents application if you disagree with a decision that you are not eligible.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs
• Published: 9 January 2020
• Last updated: 14 June 2024 — See all updates

When to ask for a review

If you think our decision about a Childcare Service application is wrong, you can make a request to challenge a childcare decision. This is known as a mandatory review. You can use it to:

• ask for a Childcare Service application decision to be looked at again
• tell us why the decision we have made is wrong
• give any evidence to support the reason for your challenge

You should make the request no later than 30 days after the date you received our original decision letter or message. If you send us the request after 30 days, you will need to tell us why it is late. We’ll then let you know if we have accepted your request.

Who can ask for a review

The person who applied to be the Childcare Service account holder can ask for a mandatory review.

Who should not ask for a review

You cannot use this form if you were told you are not eligible because:

• we cannot find your partner’s details ― you should contact the Childcare Service helpline
• you think you used the wrong information when you originally applied ― you can apply again using the online service

What you’ll need

To use the online form you will need:

• your National Insurance number
• the date of the original decision
• the letter or message we sent you
• the reason why you think the decision is wrong

You can upload documents as supporting evidence that show you are eligible to claim. We may ask you to send original documents at a later date.

If you have a partner and you included them on your original application, you will need to give their name and National Insurance number too.

How to ask for a review

Use the online form to ask for a mandatory review.

What happens next

If you are eligible

We will write to you to let you know you are eligible within 30 days.

If you are not eligible

We will write to you to let know that you are not eligible within 30 days and tell you how to make an appeal if you disagree with the decision.

If we need more information

If we need more information we will write to you and ask for it. It could take up to 45 days for us to decide if this happens.

Published 9 January 2020
Last updated 14 June 2024 + show all updates

1. 14 June 2024

   References to '30 hours free childcare' have been changed to 'free childcare for working parents'.

2. 9 January 2020

   First published.