claim back tax for childrens hobbies

mexicannavigator

Im not sure if i heard it on Jeremy Vine with Martin or on similar program, is it possible to somehow claim tax relief on taking daughter to her hobbies?

It costs me approx £30/wk with her dance/acting classes and karate lessons but with the hours iv been working recently its probably a dream.

If its too good to be true it usually is.

AnxiousMum

Haven't heard anything about that here - but as there's just been an election in Canada, you may have overheard something on Steven Harper's election campaign - spend $500 on children's physical activities, and the following year you can claim back the tax on that - giving you approximately a $75 tax credit the following year. But....that's in Canada, not here in the UK, and not until their budget is balanced in approximately 2015.

onetomany

our school pays for outside hobbys for people on low income have a word at school

zagfles

mexicannavigator wrote: »

Im not sure if i heard it on Jeremy Vine with Martin or on similar program, is it possible to somehow claim tax relief on taking daughter to her hobbies?

It costs me approx £30/wk with her dance/acting classes and karate lessons but with the hours iv been working recently its probably a dream.

If its too good to be true it usually is.

If any do Gift Aid you can - our brownies/guides do - which can increase your tax credits, or if you're a higher rate taxpayer lower your tax. They don't all though - cubs in the same place doesn't for some reason!

kst101

zagfles wrote: »

If any do Gift Aid you can - our brownies/guides do - which can increase your tax credits, or if you're a higher rate taxpayer lower your tax. They don't all though - cubs in the same place doesn't for some reason!

There is a process that Guide and Scout organisations have to go through to claim back the gift aid which doesn't sound too complicated (I help with Brownies and went to a training session about it recently) but it is another bit of admin that not all groups want to do. It is a pity as it is a win win situation given that the group gets to reclaim the tax and the person making the donation benefits as well.

kingfisherblue

kst101 wrote: »

There is a process that Guide and Scout organisations have to go through to claim back the gift aid which doesn't sound too complicated (I help with Brownies and went to a training session about it recently) but it is another bit of admin that not all groups want to do. It is a pity as it is a win win situation given that the group gets to reclaim the tax and the person making the donation benefits as well.

I am a Brownie and rainbow guider and we don't claim Gift Aid. The reason for this is that I am a volunteer and don't really need any more admin tasks in addition to the work I already do. As well as running the units, I do the accounts, research topics and activities, attend trainings and meetings, plan our programme, arrange trips, shop for resources, recruit members, support adults in training, see and speak to parents, attend district events, etc. I give several hours a week and although Gift Aid is a great idea, the area where I have my units has a transient population and the additional admin would be yet another task.

Having said that, for units with more volunteers or with somebody who is really good at admin, Gift Aid really should be claimed as it is beneficial to the girls who attend the units (sometimes adding up to a few hundred pounds a year, which can pay for a lot of activities!)