Childcare vouchers - idiots guide please!

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They weren't available when I last used childcare so are totally new to me... Am hoping to use them for after school club & holiday club.

I understand the tax advantage, etc. Is there any reason why you couldn't take the full amount per week? Can you save up vouchers (eg when you are on holiday so not using the holiday club) and use two vouchers another week?

TIA

Have a look on the computershare voucher website they have lots of info. You can save your vouchers and use them to pay at a later date. If you are a higher rate tax payer and haven't registered you should do asap as the government is changing the allowance from April for those who are not registered. The allowance remains the same for basic rate tax payers.

have a look at the website from the HMRC website (www.hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/ccin.htm) - it really depends how much you earn and how much you pay for childcare.

I started using the vouchers only to find out that I would have been about £1000 a year better off by NOT using them and using the tax credits instead.

You can only use them to pay an OFSTED registered provider of childcare.

I get them monthly as part of my salary as am fortunate that my employer is signed up to a scheme, but then can use them whenever I want so I tend to let them build up and then use them in a big lump. My husband and I can both get them as both our employers are signed up so we can max out on the tax benefit.

If your childcare provider is OFSTED registered and you can get the vouchers, am not sure why you wouldn't get them as the tax savings are pretty big and makes a big difference to us being able to afford decent childcare!

don't know about the tax credit system as don't think I am eligible so can't advise on that one...

Take a look at www.childcarevouchers.co.uk which will give you all the info....