Childcare Vouchers

Childcare Vouchers are an employee benefit allowing working parents to make significant savings on their childcare costs through tax and National Insurance (NI) exemptions. Employers also have on NI contributions, so it is a cost neutral scheme to operate, and very attractive benefits to retain and attract new staff.

The limits are set by the Government at £55 per week, £243 per month or £2,916 per year. This means that parents can choose to 'sacrifice' or 'exchange' part of their salary (up to the maximum) in return for childcare vouchers. the amount of vouchers is deducted from salary by the employer, before making statutory deductions, so tax and NI is only due on the remaining salary, hence saving employees, on average about £1,000 per year.

The savings are available to any working parents with eligible children (up to age 15, or if the child has disabilities).

The vouchers are paid into an online account, which the employee can access using a unique user ID and PIN number. This account operates for making payments to registered or approved childcare providers only, which may include nurseries, childminders, crèches, after school clubs or holiday play schemes. All transactions are made online, so payments are made directly to carer's bank accounts via BACS.

Imagine offers this service to employers all over the UK and Northern Ireland, from 2 employees to 130,000 employees. We have clients throughout the public and private sectors, and several charities.

To find out more about Imagine Co-operative Childcare Vouchers, please contact us at
0800 458 7929 or at vouchers@imagine.coop.

To locate your nearest nursery please click here or visit www.imagine.coop