Payment options for Child Care Rebate
There are four ways to receive your Child Care Rebate:
- directly to your approved child care service, fortnightly
- directly to your bank account, fortnightly
- by annual payment to your bank account. This payment option is only available if you receive your Child Care Benefit for approved child care as a lump sum payment.
If you prefer to receive your Child Care Rebate fortnightly or quarterly, you should claim Child Care Benefit fee reduction at the zero rate. This will also mean you do not have to lodge a Child Care Benefit Lump Sum payment claim at the end of each year.
The payment method you choose for Child Care Rebate will be applied for the entire financial year. A new payment method cannot be applied until the start of the next financial year unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Direct to your Child Care Benefit approved child care service ('direct to service')
Your Child Care Rebate will be paid to your child care service fortnightly or weekly depending on how often your service sends your childs’ attendance information. This will be paid when your child care attendance is received. The amount of your Child Care Rebate will be deducted from the amount of your child care fees. If you are receiving Child Care Benefit at a rate greater than zero, and you choose this payment option, then 15% of your Child Care Rebate entitlement will be withheld and then paid at the end of the financial year.
Direct to you (customer)
Your Child Care Rebate will be paid directly to your nominated bank account fortnightly or weekly depending on how often your service sends your childs’ attendance information. This will be done when your child care attendance is received. If you are receiving Child Care Benefit at a rate greater than zero, and you choose this payment option, then 15% of your Child Care Rebate entitlement will be withheld and then paid at the end of the financial year.
Quarterly payments to you
Your Child Care Rebate entitlement will be credited to your nominated bank account quarterly. The first quarter commences on the first Monday in July of each financial year. Each quarter is for a period of 13 weeks. Quarterly payments are paid in October, January, and April, with the last quarter paid at reconciliation.
Child Care Rebate quarterly periods and the payments timeline for 2012-2013 are shown in the table below. If you have not received your payment within a week of the end of the relevant payment period below, you may need to contact us on 136 150.
| Quarter | Child Care Rebate Quarterly Periods (2012-2013) | Child Care Rebate Payment Periods |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 July 2012 - 30 September 2012 | 17 October 2012 - 30 October 2012 |
| 2 | 1 October 2012 - 30 December 2012 | 16 January 2013 - 29 January 2013 |
| 3 | 31 December 2012 - 31 March 2013 | 17 April 2013 - 30 April 2013 |
| 4 | 1 April 2013 - 30 June 2013 | 24 July 2013 onwards, where tax returns have been lodged for the 2012-2013 financial year with the Australian Taxation Office and attendance information is received from the parent's child care service provider |
Annual payment to you
Your Child Care Rebate will be paid directly to your nominated bank account as a lump sum, at the end of the financial year, once you and your partner's tax returns have been lodged and your child care attendance has been received.
If you claim the Child Care Benefit for approved child care as a lump sum payment, you can receive your Child Care Rebate as a lump sum only. You must lodge your lump sum claim for Child Care Benefit for approved child care with us within two years of the end of the financial year for which you are claiming Child Care Benefit.
For example, for the 2010-11 financial year, you will need to lodge your lump sum claim for Child Care Benefit for approved child care with us before 30 June 2013. Child Care Rebate is paid by direct credit to the account you have nominated.
If you wish to receive your Child Care Rebate throughout the year, you will need to claim Child Care Benefit as a fee reduction. You should consider claiming Child Care Benefit by fee reduction at the zero rate, as this will allow you to receive your Child Care Rebate either fortnightly or quarterly.
The payment option you choose for Child Care Rebate will be applied for the entire financial year. A new payment option cannot be applied until the start of the next financial year, unless exceptional circumstances apply.