Helen Sanderson, president of the VPMA, has welcomed the announcement of the new tax-free childcare scheme.

Scheme will help vets and nurses seeking return to work says president

THE VPMA has welcomed Government plans to introduce a new tax-free childcare scheme from the autumn next year.

Under the new scheme, households where two parents are working and paying for registered childcare will be able to claim relief on contributions of up to £2000 per child per year, subject to eligibility.

Helen Sanderson, president of the VPMA said: ‘This initiative will help both employees and employers in the veterinary sector quite a bit.

"Many small and medium sized practices are put off offering the current childcare voucher scheme due to administration time and costs. This new scheme will give another option without the associated burden of administration on the practice.

"At the same time, it will make life a little easier for working parents who rely on childcare but aren’t eligible for the voucher scheme or whose employer doesn’t offer it.

"Also, by lowering eligibility to those earning £50 per week or more, it will help to encourage a return to work following maternity leave, particularly vets and nurses seeking a gradual return or part-time working.’

Working parents will be set up an account on www.gov.uk into which they can pay money for registered childcare. For every 80p they pay in, the government will top it up by 20p or 20%, the rate at which most people pay tax.

The parents can then pay their registered childminder out of this fund, with the flexibility to increase and reduce payments. Employers running the voucher scheme will be able to continue with it after the new scheme launches, but won’t be able to accept new employees onto it from autumn 2015.

For more information see www.vpma.co.uk and https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tax-free-childcare-10-things-parents-should-know