Child Care Subsidy Calculator
Find out exactly how much Child Care Subsidy your family receives — and what you'll actually pay out of pocket each week.
Takes about 2 minutes · No sign-up required · Free
Family income
Your CCS rate is based on your combined family Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI).
Enter your combined household ATI for the 2025–26 financial year.
How the Child Care Subsidy works
Income determines your rate
Your combined family ATI sets your CCS percentage — from 90% (under $85,279) tapering to 0% (above $535,280).
Activity sets your hours
The 3-Day Guarantee (from Jan 2026) gives all eligible families 72 hours/fortnight. Do 49+ hours of activity and get 100 hours.
Rate caps limit the subsidy
The subsidy is calculated on your provider's fee or the government rate cap — whichever is lower. Fees above the cap come out of your pocket.
2025–26 CCS rates at a glance
Based on combined family Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI).
| Combined family ATI | CCS rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $85,279 | 90% |
| $85,280 – $135,279 | 80% – 89% |
| $135,280 – $185,279 | 70% – 79% |
| $185,280 – $235,279 | 60% – 69% |
| $235,280 – $285,279 | 50% – 59% |
| $285,280 – $385,279 | 30% – 49% |
| $385,280 – $535,279 | 1% – 29% |
| $535,280 and above | Not eligible |
Rate tapers by 1% for every $5,000 of income above $85,279. Use the calculator above for your exact rate.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between ATI and my gross salary?▼
Adjusted Taxable Income (ATI) includes more than just your salary. It adds reportable fringe benefits, reportable employer super contributions, and net investment losses to your taxable income. For most PAYG employees, ATI is close to your gross salary — but it can be higher if you have salary packaging or investment income.
When does the 3-Day Guarantee take effect?▼
The 3-Day Guarantee started on 5 January 2026. From that date, all CCS-eligible families automatically receive a minimum of 72 hours (3 days) of subsidised care per fortnight, regardless of work or study activity.
My provider charges more than the rate cap. What do I pay?▼
Your subsidy is calculated on the rate cap amount, not your full fee. You pay the gap between the subsidised rate cap amount and the full fee. For example, if the cap is $14.63/hr, your rate is 80%, and your provider charges $18/hr: subsidy = $14.63 × 80% = $11.70. You pay $18.00 − $11.70 = $6.30/hr.
Do I get a higher rate for my second child?▼
Yes, if you have two or more children aged 5 or under in approved care and your income is below $367,563. The second (and younger) children receive up to 95% CCS — calculated as the lower of 95% or your standard rate plus 30 percentage points.
Why is my actual gap fee higher than the calculator suggests?▼
The government withholds 5% of your CCS each week as a reconciliation buffer. This is returned at tax time if your income estimate was accurate. It means your real weekly gap fee is slightly higher — our calculator shows this separately so there are no surprises.