The Dogmother Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I wonder whether any of you have any experience of this, or any advice to offer... As single parent, I claim Working Family Tax Credits (or whatever they are calling it today), I have been told by a friend that I can claim back some of the cost of Rosie's holiday childcare (it is with an OFSTED approved supplier). On this friends advice, I have sent off a letter to the IR, detailing the cost (receipts attached) and the average number of days per year that she's at club. Has anyone here managed to claim against this expense (costs me over £300/year)? It'd be nice to be able to recoup at least some of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Not 100% sure about this Clare, but I thought it was something like having an amount deducted from your wages, and getting a childcare voucher in return, which equals the amount deducted plus the tax you would've paid on it? Have you checked on direct gov or HMRC websites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 2, 2007 Author Share Posted November 2, 2007 Ooo, not heard of that Claire. I've tried googling for information, but got lost in the usual obscure mire of uselss info that the government produces Thanks, I'll keep trying for more info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I found something, is this what your friend was on about Clare? http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/ccin.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 2, 2007 Author Share Posted November 2, 2007 Hmm, that's interesting, beacuse they didn't mention childcare vouchers at all.. never heard of them should I have? Thanks for that Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Clare We have a shceme at work called Busy Bees Childcare Vouchers The website is www.busybees.com Your company has to be signed up for them though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 2, 2007 Author Share Posted November 2, 2007 That's interesting Debs, thanks. We don't have a childcare voucher scheme in place - there are only a couple of us with school age children, all the others have older kids or are well paid and don't need the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 I was going to mention Busy Bees but Debs beat me to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happymama Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 You are entitled to up to 75% of your childcare costs with an approved outfit, up to £150 a week (Mine's £156 for my two to go school hours!) with the CTC, and it's paid separately to your WFTC, but I'm not sure it's back-dateable. Watch very carefully, when you fill forms out, use a good strong black pen and leave no doubt about the difference between a six and a zero etc. They use OCR software to read the forms, and cocked one of my claims up by the tune of an £11000 overpayment. And then they got it wrong again, and I've just finished paying them off. In fact, i've just started a claim up again, it's taken me 18 months to get over the trauma of the last one. Mine only go for an extra hour and lunch over the free 5 sessions a week as they do a double shift on Monday, and it costs me £16.10 a week. Not sure how much of that I'll get back but I'm looking forward to the WFTC award. You can do a calc on their website to see what you can claim, try that using theoretical figs to work it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted November 2, 2007 Share Posted November 2, 2007 Clare - we've just got invloved in the voucher scheme through a company called Bentley Jennison. (After a whole year of thinking about it, AND you've just reminded me we HAVE to apply for Family Tax Credits too. ) They pay your child care fees out of your pay packet (up to a certain amount) directly to the child's carers before you get taxed. We have to top it up by around £30 a month. I think my employer uses Busy Bee's Vouchers. Not sure how the vouchers work, as Darren pays directly by DD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 2, 2007 Author Share Posted November 2, 2007 Thanks all for your advice and suggestions. I am going to wait and see what the IR have to say. I'm not sure how the voucher scheme would work for me because her childcare is only in the school holidyas and therefore not at regular times or dates. I have sent them details of the clubs OFSTED registration number, the amount that I pay (copies of receipts too) and an idea of how many days per year (average) she attends. This club at the sports centre is fantastic - we get a discount as we have a one parent family membership, so she and I can go to any classes or swim sessions for free and she gets half price holiday club. So for £9.50 per day, she attends from 8.30am to 5.30pm, gets a lunch, drinks whenever she wants them. They do craft activities, sports, swimmming each day and have an exhausting time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkleeeeee Posted November 3, 2007 Share Posted November 3, 2007 hi claret i use childcare vouchers from sodexo and have used busybees in the past (but their custome service was pretty poor) anyway i can take upto £243 from my wages before tax and national insurance. it is all done online, hubbies company pays 6% fee for the service. i can then pay the nursery online. it does save me a fortune. i am not sure if it is only for nursery though. also there is a way you can claim 80p in the £1 for nursery fees if you are low income but we earn to much for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 We have childcare pass at work which is something to do with HMRC website I will try and email some of the documents to you later Clare but it is on our intranet site so may not work I am the wrong person to comment being childless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 5, 2007 Author Share Posted November 5, 2007 Thanks for all the info guys - I'm now waiting for the IR to get back to me after my letter last week. I will speak to my employesr about the voucher scheme, but I'm the ony person here using childcare, so I don't hold out much hope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 You could use it as a plus for recruiting future staff Clare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 5, 2007 Author Share Posted November 5, 2007 Thanks Debs, I'll tell them that, although, to be honest, the main area they recruit into is for fee-earners, who are VERY well paid and don't use childcare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riane Posted November 5, 2007 Share Posted November 5, 2007 Hi, I have my holiday care taken into account in the overall average monthly costs. When you fill in the annual review form it asks what your average monthly childcare costs are. I added up my monthly nursery costs and holiday care over the year and then divided by 12 (months) the figure therefore takes into account the holiday care. hope this is helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 5, 2007 Author Share Posted November 5, 2007 Ooo, thanks Maria, perhaps I ought to do that.. I'l bear it in mind and see what they get back to me with for starters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
