Can anyone tell me about tax credits?

[happy2bme]

Tax credits never fail to get me confused!!!!

I have just been chatting to a friend with a 1 year old who attends nursery 1 day a week and apparently the amount for this is matched by tax credits.

I would guess that we are on roughly the same very modest incomes (or will be when I go back to work) and i hope to start work in march after mat leave (currently looking for job) have booked ds into nursery 2 days a week - can we get any help with this?

The tax credit website suggests not but can anyone advise or point me to where i would find the thresholds etc.

thanks

Bumping for you.

Thank you

look at the government website - you can do a check on what you are entitled to. there are two parts, working tax credit and child tax credit. childcare element is part of the working tax credit. think it is hmrc website.

Am ex TC officer. Childcare won't be matched by tax credits the maximum they will pay is 80% of the costs, and getting the full 80% depends on what your income is.
There is no 'threshold' as such for who is and isn't entitled to the childcare element of working tax credit.
Basically when it's worked out, they add up the total of all the elements you're entitled to and if you're using childcare you would be entitled to that element.
Then the entire award is tapered down according to your household income.
So it could work out that due to your income the entire childcare element is tapered out of your award iyswim??
It is confusing I know.
If you'd like a quick calc I can do one for you if you'd like.
just give me a shout

hth

Thank you stroppy and bored - working these things out are never simple!!!!
thanks for the offer bored - I'll wait until i actually get a job and then try using the real life figures on the website.