Day Care - What are you paying?

[cadnmama]

In NS we do get a tax deduction for daycare costs, but it doesn't come anywhere close to making it the same as paying $7 a day. We pay over $8,000 a year; we'd have to get a $6,000 tax return just from the daycare receipt to bring it down that far!

Z

You'd have to factor in the higher income taxes into your calculation. Quebec used to be (not sure if it still is) the most highly taxed jurisdiction in North America. That being said, our before and after school care is also subsidized at $7 per day, as well as the expanded parental leave program (we receive approx. 70% of our salary, as opposed to 55%) and various other benefits that are offered by the provincial government.

It is a lot like universal healthcare - everyone pays for the greater good. I'm not sure it will last though, to me the subsidized spots should be somewhat means based, or at least on a sliding scale. It's not fair that someone making minimum wage cannot get a subsidized spot because a couple making $150,000 per year has taken it, simply because their name was first on the list. It penalizes lower income families. I have a feeling it will eventually change just like family allowance and other formerly universal programs have.

[Katyana08]

I find that if I worked, after deducting my CPP, EI, taxes and other premiums I'd be losing money. It's actually cheaper to stay home. Kinda sad.

[Meg1112]

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[Meg1112]

You are right, it is not allowed and is actually tax fraud. You should claim what you paid. If you paid by cheque, you'll have other proof if CRA requests it, but if you paid by cash it can be harder to prove, but not impossible. You could always report the caregiver to Canada Revene. I believe they have a confidential informant line, and if the caregiver has more children then just yours, they won't know who it came from.

A note to others looking into home daycares... An Individual care provider should be giving you their SIN as it is a requirement for filing your taxes. (See line 214 in the income tax guide) http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/t...ymnts-eng.html If they do not want to give it to you, this could indicate that you may have future problems.

I paid cash

[Insane]

I paid cash

Start paying by cheque or money order. I would still claim the full amount or call revenue canada for advice.

[zephara]

where I live they charge me $ 24.00 a day it is government funded as it is on reserve land. I live on crown land but because our communitties are so small they allow us to send our kids there for a small price. whn my eldest two were little it was 30 aq day with the second and subsequent children being charged only half of what it is for one. I am really lucky and I still cannot afford to pay. when my two eldest went to daycare in another daycare it was almost 50 a day each. for 2 months I owed the daycare more than 2500.

I wish I had the patience for children other than my own because if you think daycare is bad wait until you need after school care. that is the real kicker.

[Ams]

I run a home daycare, and I charge $30 a day with 2 snacks and a lunch, unless the child is still using formula or baby food (which parent supplies). I allow 1 week free if they have vacation, if they take a second week they pay me 1/2 off the weekly cost.
$30/day seems to be the median in the London Area, the price ranges from $20day (no receipt) to 35/day

[bargainlover84]

The daycare my daughter goes to is $700 a month for 5 days a week. They take 3 weeks of vacation every year (I still pay) and if she misses a day I still pay for it.

[rachel1496]

We pay 100 /week (with receipt in January), even if the child does not go.
I just received a call from our sitting and she said due to her having to pay in she will only give us a receipt for 1/2 of the amount. Is that allowed.

If you had agreed to no receipts ahead of time then fine but she can't change the rules halfway through the year and expect you to be ok with that. Pay in cheque from now on, depending on who you bank with you can actually see the canceled cheque right from your online banking site. When you file claim the whole amount and if it gets questioned then you have proof of how much you were paying.

I keep my sister's kids during the day, sometimes at my house, sometimes at hers, depending on the day. Since she and her husband are on rotating shifts we do flat rate of $125 a week. Some weeks I work less than 10 hours, some weeks it's 30 hours so it all balances out in the end.

When the kids get older I'm planning on doing straight before and after care and half day care for the jk/sk kids. There seems to be a big demand for it in this area.

[melodiemar]

WOW $76.00 a day in centres in T.O.....that must be some kinda care...do they spend the day at the CN Tower.....Lunch at Medieval Times???? Whew...that's crazy! I run a home daycare and I charge $35 a day.. I'm in Cambridge ON, but just 15 minutes away in Waterloo, I have a friend who charges $50/day, and her parents don't even think twice about it. I had to negotiate with some of mine to get $35. It really depends on your area.

[Sally888]

Depends on the age of the child but Zach is three and 28 with meals.

[Sally888]

Meg. Id honestly take a reciept for half, its probably why shes charging so cheap. If she claimed the full amount I can guarantee you daycare would go up a lot with her. If you like her that much I wouldnt make a big deal out of it.


I've never had a daycare or parent care give me their SIN number. That just screams Identity theft. When I use to claim our daycare I just put her name the SIN is optional.

[Svea]

I pay $30 a day/ $600 a month. It's almost my entire paycheck. We qualify for subsidy care, but apparently it's on freeze here. We're on some kind of higher priority waiting list, because of our income. It's not easy.

[lovesgreatdeals]

We don't need daycare. Our friend pays $1,200 a month. Her son is 13 months old.

[Meg1112]

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