Notify your service to your local City/County Childcare Committee.   You may receive a certificate/ letter of notification, this should be kept on file for future reference.

Register online with ROS or contact the local tax office for a form TR1 to register as a self- employed Childminder. (This form is also available to download on www.revenue.ie – go to forms and registration forms)

To ensure you avail of the tax exemption, you must submit an Income Tax Return form (Form 11) each year and claim the childcare services relief on the Tax Return. You will need to confirm that your service is notified and confirm your total childminding income for the year of claim is less than €15,000. Where a couple are being jointly assessed when submitting a Form 11 please ensure that the section being completed by the Childminder indicating exempted income includes the Childminder’s PPS number.

As a self-employed Childminder you will be required to pay Class S PRSI @ 4% (or a minimum €500) provided your income is €5,000 or more in a tax year and this payment will be a contribution towards your Class S benefits – Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Guardian’s Payment (Contributory), State Pension (Contributory), Maternity and Paternity Benefit, Job Seekers Benefit (self-employed), Adoptive Benefit, Treatment Benefit (Dental, Optical and Aural). Class S PRSI does not provide cover for any other schemes / benefits. PRSI due on certain tax-exempt income will be included in the Income Tax assessment for the relevant tax year. This means that €500 should be paid when filing the tax return. Failure to pay this could affect your State Pension entitlements.

You may mind up to 3 children (under 18 years) at any one time, excluding your own children. A Childminder could, conceivably, mind 3 children in the morning and 3 different children in the afternoon and still qualify.