Existing childcare allowances for parents in business are insufficient, complicated and difficult to claim as they fall within the tax credits domain rather than the straightforward tax-deductible business expense.
For example if I need to go to trade show, I am allowed to claim travel, food and accommodation as a legitimate business cost. However, someone to look after my child is not allowable. Without this support in place this places undue costs on a fledgling business or I simply cannot attend that trade show - which is a vital sales tool for my business - and therefore cannot work or my business will fail.
Allowing suitably registered childcare to be a tax deductible expense would be a much simpler way to do it than trying to work within the inflexible parameters of the working credits scheme which does not allow for the flexibility of arrangements and earnings which one or two person bands may require.
Please help small businesses grow and allow childcare - when used for the sake of the business - to be a tax deductible expense - like any other expense that helps a business move forward.