How to calculate childcare costs for claiming tax credits

[verybusyspider]

I've been claiming these for 4 years and I've had a sudden realisation I might be doing it all wrong.

Do you take off the amount you pay from childcare vouchers before declaring you total childcare costs? I can't find anything that says you do but I want to be sure as it obviously makes a huge difference

If you are claiming childcare vouchers via salary sacrifice, you cant claim tax credits on the same amount. However if the vouchers dont cover the full cost, ie £250 costs, £200 vouchers then you can submit £50 as your childcare cost.

It is on the form somewhere re not claiming for both on the same amount.

Do you have a reference for where it says that? I'm sitting with all the advice booklets and tax declarations in front of me and can't find anywhere that explicitly says that

www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCreditsandChildBenefit/TaxCredits/Gettingstarted/whoqualifies/Childrenandtaxcredits/DG_073803

Thank you, much clearer and we're in a whole load of sh*t