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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

My parents pay my daughters nursery fees

45 replies

justinemansfd · 16/02/2013 18:52

Just wondering if anyone else has help paying for childcare from relatives?
If so do you claim tax credits on the full amount it costs for nursery or just the amount you pay?

Would really appreciate the help s I have a query

Thanks xxj

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ReetPetit · 16/02/2013 19:21

not meaning to be rude, but why do you parents pay your dds nursery fees??

if you work and claim tax credits, then you are meant to pay for nursery out of that. Are you only just starting work? If so claim the tax credits, pay for it yourself out of that and top up whatever you have to pay on top and tell your parents they don't have to pay for your daughter anymore!!

Meglet · 16/02/2013 19:28

reet because childcare is expensive and her parents might want to help out? Grandparents paying for things isn't that unusual.

just I don't know about the TC thing, interesting question though. I'd guess the TC are based on the nursery fee's, it would be a faff for HMRC to start asking how much the grandparents pay.

Original poster

justinemansfd · 16/02/2013 19:48

Thanks meglet will ring them on Monday!
Reet you have no idea of my earnings or circumstances so your opinion really isn't helpful but thankyou anyway, cheers guys xx

OP posts:

Fightlikeagirl · 16/02/2013 19:50

I don't pretend to know much about tax credits but would it not be fraud if you don't use the money to pay for childcare but you claim that you are?
Maybe your parents could help you out in another way such as groceries/rent/bills/clothing etc?
I know that in the past as a cm I have had to verify how much a certain family pay me for childcare and it was quite official stating that I would be liable if I was not truthful about how much I received.
Just to warn you really in case you ever get looked into.

SamSmalaidh · 16/02/2013 20:29

I get tax credits to cover about 1/3 of DS's fees, grandparents pay another 1/3 and I pay the rest. I told TCs the full amount, not the 2/3s.

Bluemonkeyspots · 17/02/2013 09:56

Would be interesting to find out if you can claim the money for childcare even though it's not being spent on it.

You would be onto a winner if you could anyway.

How are your patents planning on paying if you don't mind me asking? Will it go direct to the nursery or come to you to pay them?

Just thinking that if it came to you I can't see how anyone could prove it was supposed to be used for fees and not just living expenses.

Very nice of your parents to be doing this

insancerre · 17/02/2013 09:58

Is that not fraud?
Benefit cheats come in all guises it seems.

SamSmalaidh · 17/02/2013 10:40

How on earth is it fraud?

mrscog · 17/02/2013 10:44

It depends on what you've claimed - on a TC's form you must only claim for the fees you pay - so if your bill was £250 per week but your parents pay £200 you must put that you only pay £50 per week.

For what it's worth I think there have been some spiteful comments on this so far. Op I'm pleased you have nice supportive parents who can help you out. :)

insancerre · 17/02/2013 10:53

Because as I read it, she is claiming tax credits for nursery fees she is not paying herself.
From the HM Revenue and customs
If you work, you could get extra tax credits to help with your childcare costs. You can claim as soon as you start paying for childcare, and only for the amounts that are actually paid by you.
www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/who-qualifies/children/childcare-costs.htm

Fightlikeagirl · 17/02/2013 11:00

Sam It could be classed as fraud as you're claiming that you're paying out an amount for childcare but you're not actually paying it all yourself.. To get around this could the grandparents not contribute to something else and you pay for the whole childcare bill yourself?

Not bring spiteful at all just offering advice.

thesnootyfox · 17/02/2013 11:14

Use the money that your parents pay you towards groceries instead.

ZenNudist · 17/02/2013 11:19

Insancerre that sounds like it answers OP's question. People were a bit quick to rush in and cry fraud when she was just asking for clarification.

OP if you need the help and your dps can afford it and want to then I'm sure they'd help out in other ways. Clothes, trips, treats or holidays? Then you can pay and claim nursery fees reasonably knowing you get support from your dps for things the state shouldn't have to pay for.

Catchingmockingbirds · 17/02/2013 11:26

Are you asking if you should claim extra tax credits for nursery fees you don't pay and then keep it for yourself? No, ofcourse you shouldn't.

Fightlikeagirl · 17/02/2013 11:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bluemonkeyspots · 17/02/2013 11:35

Well the easiest way round it then would be to explain to your parents that it would help you out more financially if they could give you the "fees" money to use for living expenses and let your wages pay for the actual nursery that way you would not be doing anything wrong.

I'm sure your parents would be fine doing this if it was to help you out even more, it's not like it would make any difference to what they are paying you. Unless they are somehow uses childcare vouchers to save on tax but I'm sure it's only parents that can claim these?

Fightlikeagirl · 17/02/2013 11:49

Yeah what bluemonkeyspots says or if your parents pay the fees to you there isn't an actual paper trail to the childcare setting anyway so would be ok. I was just saying that you could be in trouble if your parents pay the fee direct.

It is great to have parents who help out, I always take my dad with me on the new school uniform shop!!!

ReetPetit · 17/02/2013 15:27

i know op said my opinion is not hellpful but this is benefit fraud!! if you are not paying the childcare yourself you must tell tax credits that! all i was saying is why can you not claim the correct amount,pay it from that and relieve your parents of having to pay your dds childcare costs?

SamSmalaidh · 17/02/2013 15:55

Get your parents to pay for something else then (or just give you the money as a gift every month).

Fightlikeagirl · 17/02/2013 16:21

Apparently Reet we're being spiteful by pointing out it would be fraud, oh well!

Original poster

justinemansfd · 17/02/2013 18:31

Thanks guys,
I havnt actually started claiming tax credits but now I'm eligible I will probably pay all the childcare and get my parents to help out on the mortgage! Thanks x

OP posts:

Xenia · 17/02/2013 19:06

No lawful but of course your parents can pay for other things and then no problem.
yes, get them to help out on the mortgage. They may want to pay direct to ensure the money isn't going on booze so they could make a monthly or annual over payment to your building society.

MirandaWest · 17/02/2013 19:15

Xenia, why would the payment be spent on alcohol?

missmapp · 17/02/2013 19:19

When I had an overpayment using childcare vouchers, it had to be repaid direct to cm as it could only be used on childcare( no problem as a huge amount of my money is only spent on childcare!) is this not the case with child tax credits??

SamSmalaidh · 17/02/2013 19:24

I haven't used childcare vouchers, but tax credits are just paid into your bank account rather than direct to the care provider.

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