Tax credits and charity grants

Sandylee

My son started boarding in September. Half of his fees are paid by a grant from the school, and part of it by an education charity which l applied to. I'm still liable for the fees according to the school contract. I have just been told that boarding qualifies for as child care and l can claim tax credits since he is under 16.
I have looked at what l should put down as my weekly cost, from the leaflet it says that l can't claim for money paid for my childcare vouchers or from a government or local authority grant. It does not say anything about charity grants. Does it mean l can put down the amount l am liable for according to my contract with the school?

Thank you.
Sandra

Darksparkle

You would claim for what you actually pay for out of your own pocket.

You cannot claim for any of the compulsory education costs e.g.:

A school charges £7,000 per year for compulsory education, and £1,500 per year for boarding which is provided as an option. The school provides an itemised invoice to show the £1,500 boarding fees. If the claimant has chosen to pay for the additional fees for boarding, the childcare costs would be considered as relevant for tax credit purposes.

[Deleted User]

How about the part you are actually left liable for after the grants or are you actually wanting to get extra money from the tax payer that you don't actually pay out?

teddysmum

I understand this to mean that you are liable for any fees the charity does not pay out, so cannot see how you can claim that expense, if the charity does pay.


If the child has special needs, then fine, but if this is just a case of private education, surely you can't expect the tax payer to help your child have something that the majority of children are denied ?

sheramber

Do the grants cover the education or the boarding element?