So tax credits are now only paying 70% childcare, can i use childcare vouchers for the rest?

[extraconfusedhelp]

I know my boss would be happy to give me childcare vouchers, and he said this will come out of money I would be paying for tax (not sure if thats correct).

Nearly all of my childcare was paid for by child tax credits before. But now they have dropped it to 70%.

I'm wondering if I can use vouchers for the remainding amount?

Would be very grateful for advice.

I have a feeling this is possibly rather complex.

Childcare Vouchers are a salary sacrifice scheme, so affect your pay for various purposes - including I think your Tax Credits claim.

HMRC have a calculator... not sure how good it is. Have you tried it? Childcare vouchers and tax credits - better off calculator

MoneySavingExpert: Childcare Vouchers a Warning - worth a read perhaps.

There is an online calculator as nany nick has shown that will tell you if better off on tax credits or childcare vouchers as unfortuantely you cant do both - a friend of ours as he works full time and she works very part time are better off on tax credits whereas we are better with vouchers as husband works full time and I will work almost full time

awww bless... You only have 70% of your childcare paid for? Wish someone would pay some of my childcare.

Thank you to everyone for the useful messages.

And to STRIX - for your funny little comment, would just like to know if you are a struggling single parent? Or if you are happily married with a large income

you can't use it to pay the "rest" as you only get 70% of the amount you actually pay - so if you use voucher for say 50% of your entire bill then you only "pay" 50% and only get tax credits for 70% of that - ie 35% of the total.
As the others have said, you need to look at whether you are better off with the vouchers or the tax credits.

The majority of people unless larger earners are better with tax credits but you cant do both. Although I think some of my parents disagree. Lol. I agree that tax credits help parents getting back to work on a low income. It would be a shame to lose that element as I think would end up a lot of parents giving up work who on low income. Some can only dream of luxury wages x