I am self employed as a gardener and wondered whether I can get tax relief on my childcare, now.

[newtoforums]

Trying to work out my long term business cash flow and wondered whether there was any way I could claim my childcare costs as a company expense when I do my tax return.

I am set up as a sole trader not a registered company, I will be doing my first tax return in Jan 2015 for this financial year (2013 - 2014), I take it the new childcare ideas won't be in effect for me then but will go forward from 2015...?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

I wouldn't have thought so, because its not a direct expense incurred through your job. In other words: you don't need to have children in order to be a gardener; you could do the job equally well without children so having them is a choice.

(Btw I actually believe all childcare costs incurred directly as a result of working should be tax deductible, but I think the above is the technical reason why you probably can't!)

costs of childcare are a private expense and not tax deductible.

No expenses would be a "company" expense, as you are a sole trader.

if you claim working tax credits and child tax credits, then you can get help with childcare costs depending on the hours worked and total income