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Original poster

tax credits - when do i get for childcare?

21 replies

olek · 26/07/2006 21:29

Hi, i am looking at childcare providers, and need to know at what point does IR pay/not pay towards childcare. That will help me decide if to pay a friend or send to a reg cm. Does anyone know, or know where I can get the info? (cant find it on the IR website)

Many thanks!

OP posts:
nicnack2 · 26/07/2006 21:41

what info do you need, amount you earn or hours you work?

Original poster
olek · 26/07/2006 22:04

i know you each have to work min 16 hrs a week. I want to know at what earnings level you et what percentage back. And when do you not get any at all? thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
olek · 26/07/2006 22:05

sorry for spelling!

OP posts:
QueenEagle · 26/07/2006 22:06

olek, I believe it is not income level but amount of hours worked. If you regularly work 16 hours a week or more then you get (70%?) childcare amount paid through your tax credits.

Original poster
olek · 26/07/2006 22:14

i hope so! But am not sure, as what if you are not eligible for working tax credit?

OP posts:
QueenEagle · 27/07/2006 13:32

tbh I don't know too much about this but I believe that Working Tax Credit is for families on lower incomes.

If you are not on this then I think I am right in saying you will qualify for the childcare payments as long as you are working in excess of 16 hours per week, every week.

Give the helpline a ring, they are usually quite helpful.

cat64 · 27/07/2006 13:52

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joelallie · 27/07/2006 14:01

I don't think you can pay a friend to look after your child. If the childcarer accepts payment they have to be registered which involved jumping through Ofsted type hoops.

cat64 · 27/07/2006 17:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
olek · 27/07/2006 21:21

thank you all for replies. What i am really wondering is at what income level the payments kick in/out. In general i cant understand at all what they base their payments on.

and yes joelallie they should be reg. But it might be a choice between unreg trustworthy friend, and someone i dont know.

OP posts:
nicnack2 · 29/07/2006 12:53

you have to work over 16 and earn less than think about 50000 for payment

all4girlz · 29/07/2006 13:52

think if you earn more than £37 k a year between you
you will get nothing towards childcare we thought we would get a least a tenner but got nothing per week and earnt around 38 k btween us my c/m cost 165 per week I was gutted then Ihad to give upwork as pregnant with dd4 now 14m

AllieBongo · 29/07/2006 14:30

it is based on income. we don't earn over £37k between us, i work more than 16 hours, and we get no help.

AllieBongo · 29/07/2006 14:37

look here

Flossam · 29/07/2006 14:58

I just phoned and we don't get it. Got slightly excited as neighbour insisted we would but we must be better off on paper (god only knows we can't be any other way).

all4girlz · 29/07/2006 15:14

alliebongo

it is extremely depressing that they want to help working mums but give us absolutely nothing

I am lucky that dh can support me and the tribe --not been trying to get back to work since dd4
too expensve for childcare --looking into a few courses but we would have to pay full fees

annoyed because it seems so unfair iykwim

Original poster
olek · 29/07/2006 22:54

thanks for the link AllieBongo. It looks like we would get it for this tax year (returning to work so not full income this year). Is it very reliable? I better phone the IR helpline before i make any decisions, though i hate calling them.

I wish there is simple charts where you just looked it up.

OP posts:
zoej · 04/08/2006 08:56

I have just had fun with the child tax - I have had to employ a nanny due to no other local options, but because she does not/ther is not the facility for her to be offsted registered they will not accept her as valid childcare!!! Has anyone else come across this and what do you do?

zippitippitoes · 04/08/2006 09:29

I thought this scheme allowed nannies to register as approved childcare for 99.00 so that you do become eligible for working tax credit childcare element if you earn up to 32,000 or 45,000 for more than one child and both work more than 16 hours

if your nanny has a listed qualification

zoej · 04/08/2006 19:26

I think the approval scheme allows me to be able to pay my nanny with the NI & Tax free childcare vouchers I can have through work as part of my pay - £55 per wekk NI & Tax free. But it is nothing to do with the government or ofstead.

A saving anyway- I think I will save more that way than what I would every get through Child tax credit system!!!

zippitippitoes · 05/08/2006 08:59

this clarifies the position with nannies if they are approved or from an agency then you can claim tax credits for childcare as an alternative to salary sacrifice and vouchers

here

I think it's just that most people who are on low incomes don't have nannies they have childminders and nursery places! And of course these rules are relatively recent (April 2005)

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