Tax free childcare vs childcare vouchers?!

[justmewithmylifetoday]

What's the difference and which is the better option?

Do you already get vouchers and are wondering whether to switch to tax free? If you don't, you can't sign up for vouchers now - the scheme closed in I think 2018

As PP says you can't get childcare vouchers now if not already in Scheme.

When I looked (when they were introducing tax free childcare), childcare vouchers were better value so I remained in that scheme (DH too).

Not sure of all the details now.

Yeah the vouchers are only available if you'd already had them op. The vouchers are better so if your already on them I'd stay put x

Not currently getting childcare vouchers. Didn't realise the scheme had finished, thanks all!

DS due to start Nursery and DD1 wrap around care at school, noticed on the registration form they take childcare vouchers so wanted to investigate.

Yeah you can't get the vouchers now. But take the tax free child care if eligible and spread the word! So many colleagues didnt know this was a thing!

DH is going to look into applying for tax free childcare 👍 thanks all!

Please can anyone advise what is available to someone applying now for the first time (so in the new scheme)? Thank you

Tax free childcare. So you pay the money into an account online and the government top it up. (There are limits). Your best shout is to search the .gov page.

www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare

Childcare choices website will calculate your best options based on income and circumstances some can get help through UC

thanks for this and to@piglet81

Do they top up the account simultaneously, or do you put in, say £400 then have to wait a month for the govt to put their portion in?

@TwinsAndTiramisu mine normally gets topped up within an hour or two but I think they say it can take up to one working day

@Lockdownmummy thank you :)

I've been looking into it, and understand the principle, but nowhere actually tells you how it physically works. Once you've completed the online application form, is it instantly set up, or is there quite a wait from application to having a usable account?

@TwinsAndTiramisu there was a little bit of a wait - maybe a day or two. You'll get a message on your account when it's been approved.

Once you got your head around the numbers I've found it fairly straightforward to use.