Tax Free Childcare Account Subsidises Summer Camp Costs

If you have children under 12 who attend a nursery, after school club, playscheme, childminder or you are considering sending them to a summer camp you should think about setting up a tax-free childcare account. The government adds 25% to the amounts that you save in the account up to £2,000 for each child so £8,000 is topped up to £10,000 (a higher amount applies for disabled children). The account is then used to pay Ofsted registered childcare providers.

Note that it doesn’t need to be the child’s parents paying into the account, uncles, aunts, grandparents and others can also make payments.

Note also that you are not eligible if you or your partner have adjusted net income in excess of £100,000 for the current tax year.

This scheme will gradually replace childcare vouchers which many employers continue to provide to employees. These are free from tax and national insurance (there are limits) and can be used to pay for childcare until the child is 16. Childcare voucher schemes can no longer be set up but employees already eligible can continue to benefit.