UNDER NEW TAX rules proposed by the Revenue Commissioners, childminders, such as grandparents that mind their grandchildren at home, will have to fill out a 26-page tax return form declaring their earnings.

Early Childhood Ireland said that this move by Revenue might actually have counterproductive repercussions, stating that they are concerned that it will push more people into the black economy.

Exempt

Currently, childminders who earn less than €15,000 a year are exempt from paying tax and do not have to fill out a declaration form, but this is set to change under the new initiatives.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Teresa Heaney, chief executive of Early Childhood Ireland, said that the new proposals make it clear that Revenue is anxious to see childminders working from home registered for tax, adding that the childminding sector is not unique in the Revenue’s crackdown to get in taxes.

Heaney said that the new proposals need to be handled with “great care” stating that their organisation want to see more professional training for childcare workers and more and better inspections, but she said that this move could result in people working in the “black economy” which would not be in the best interests of children.

She said that Revenue should speak to organisations like Early Childhood Ireland before introducing such a measure.

Heaney said Revenue should try the “carrot rather than the stick approach” as the drive in the childcare sector should be for more regulation and professionalism.

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