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Claim childcare as an expense?

12 replies

solveproblem · 29/01/2013 22:37

I'm probably being stupid but thought I'd ask anyway.

I have to travel sometimes with work and when I do my DC's have to be dropped of at childcare provider earlier.

I can claim for all costs incurred such as mileage, food etc. I've never claimed for the extra childcare that is needed.

Would you be able to claim for this as an expense with your employer? After all it is a cost I don't normally have when I'm in the office.

I don't want to ask my employer if this can be seen as an expense as it will make me seem entitled etc.

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Melissakitkat · 30/01/2013 18:01

Short answer - no not claimable.

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Melissakitkat · 30/01/2013 18:02

Long answer work does not require you to have children as part of your job therefore you cannot claim expenses to do with children you 'choose' to have. :0) am an accountant so know these things.

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BikeRunSki · 30/01/2013 18:04

I used to jobshare. Occasionally my jobsharer and I were both asked to be at work on the same day (training, big meeting etc) if we could arrange childcare, and our boss would pay our extra day's childcare.

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solveproblem · 30/01/2013 19:43

Thanks for your replies.

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Melissakitkat · 30/01/2013 20:03

If your boss pays your childcare this was be seen as a benefit in kind and would be taxable. Very unusual.

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jkklpu · 30/01/2013 22:35

For out-of-hours babysitting, eg because of travelling or evening events, I can claim babysitting costs, with an audit trail.

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eightytwenty · 30/01/2013 22:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

flowery · 31/01/2013 14:26

Whether you can claim it from your employer is entirely up to them. It's not a legal thing whether it's claimable or not.

But if your employer does decide to pay it, it would be a taxable benefit.

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TheDoctrineOfSciAndNatureClub · 02/02/2013 09:40

flowery, even if it's work outside of your normal hours? How is it different to it being ok to get a taxi home late but not being able to claim Day to day commuting costs without being taxed?

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flow4 · 03/02/2013 15:23

I think the taxi home is also a 'perk' - i.e. something a good employer might do, but discretionary. And I reckon it would also be a taxable benefit (but Melissa/someone else better informed than me will confirm/refute).

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flowery · 03/02/2013 16:12
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flow4 · 03/02/2013 17:17

That's interesting flowery, thanks. I've never had to work after 9pm, so that's why this tax exemption hasn't applied for me.

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