Don't forget, from 6th April 2005, tax and national insurance relief will be available to all employees using registered childcare by means of childcare vouchers.

From April 2005, the relief will be extended to previously unregistered child carers such as nannies as long as they have become approved under a new voluntary approval scheme.

There is now information regarding the childcare approval scheme available at the following website:

www.surestart.gov.uk/childcareapproval

Information on this site is aimed at Parents and Child Carers. You are also able to download an application form on this site. Nestor Healthcare has been appointed as the authorising body and will accept applications from 4th January 2005. The common start date for all registrations will be 6th April and will last for 12 months.

The savings to employees will be quite substantial. If you are a basic rate taxpayer, paying for childcare costing more than £50 per week and using childcare vouchers, then you will save around £850 per annum. If both parents are taxpayers, then you can save around £1700 per annum.

Please contact us if you wish to set up a childcare voucher scheme within your company.