Mary Macleod welcomes action on tax-free childcare

Ahead of tomorrow’s budget, the Government today announced an online scheme to allow working families to claim a tax-free childcare allowance, worth up to £2,000 per child. The new scheme will replace the current childcare voucher scheme and will come in from September next year.

Mary commented:

“I welcome the extension to the tax-free childcare scheme announced today. This shows the government’s commitment to helping parents who want to get back into the workforce. For too long, talented women who want to work have been put off by the cost of childcare. As many as 1.9 million working families will benefit from this tax-free childcare allowance – far more than ever benefitted from the current childcare voucher scheme which only 5% of UK employers had signed up to.”

Today’s announcement extends the previously-announced scheme which offered up to £1,200 per child and will also fast-forward the implementation to include children up to 12 earlier than previously planned.