Millions could claim back cash if they wear a uniform to work – are you owed £100s?
MILLIONS of workers are entitled to claim back cash if they wear a uniform – but they should act fast.
HMRC allows those who wear a uniform to work to claim back tax relief on the expenses of washing, repairing or even replacing the clothing.
That means workers such as pilots, police officers, ambulance workers and nurses can get some cash back.
You could even claim the money if you just wear a branded company T-shirt.
The tax relief can be claimed on up to five years’ worth of expenses, so it’s not too late if you weren’t aware.
You should ideally act before the tax year ends on April 5, though, so you can claim for as much as possible.
After April 5, you won’t be able to claim the relief for the 2020/21 tax year any more.
How much could you get?
The amount you can get depends on what industry you work in, and whether you’re backdating any of your claims.
For most workers, the standard allowance for uniform maintenance is £60.
This is a flat rate, which means you won’t need to record and report the amount you’re spending on uniform maintenance.
When you claim the uniform tax refund you will be getting back the amount of tax you would otherwise have paid on that £60.
That means if you’re a basic-rate taxpayer (earning up to £50,270 a year), you’ll get 20% back – or £12.
Higher-rate taxpayers earning more than that will get back £24.
As you can backdate your claim by up to four tax years, you can get a maximum of £60.
Some occupations have more specific limits and mean you can get even more money back.
For example, ambulance staff get a maximum annual allowance of £185.
Basic-rate taxpayers would get £37 tax back on that for each year they claim – totalling £185 for five years of claims.
Higher-rate taxpayers would get £74 per year, or £370 for five years.
Nurses and midwives get a standard allowance of £125 but they can also claim for shoes, socks and tights.
If you’re wanting to work out how much you will get back, you should take 20% off your standard allowance if you’re a basic-rate taxpayer and 40% off if you pay the higher rate.
Here are some more examples:
- Firefighters and fire officers have a standard allowance of £80 a year (so basic-rate taxpayers get £16 and higher rate £32)
- Dental nurses and healthcare assistants have an allowance of £125 (basic-rate taxpayers can get £25, higher rate £50)
- Pilots and co-pilots have an allowance of £1,022 (basic-rate taxpayers can get £204, higher rate £408.80)
- Mechanics have an allowance of £120 (basic-rate taxpayers can get £24, higher rate £48)
You can find out the full list of occupations included on the Government website here.
Those in the armed forces won’t need to go through the process of claiming.
That’s because the cost of maintaining your uniform will be dealt with through your tax code, and your tax-free personal allowance will be raised to compensate.
If you’re self-employed, you should claim uniform and laundry expenses when filling in your self-assessment tax return rather than through the rebate.
Who is eligible?
In order to claim the relief, all of the following must apply to you:
- You wear a uniform recognisably linked to a certain job e.g. branded t-shirt, paramedic or police officer and either a logo or a company name must be recognisable to a member of public.
- You are required to wear the uniform by your boss and had no choice but to buy it.
- You had to purchase, replace, mend or clean it yourself
- You paid income tax during the year you’re claiming for
How to claim
If you think you are eligible, you can apply online or by post.
Avoid official-looking rebate firms, as they will charge you a fee to make the claim – but you can do it for free on the Government website.
You will need to fill in form P87 online, which you can find here.
You can also print it out and send it to HMRC here:
Pay As You Earn
HM Revenue & Customs
BX9 1AS
This is what you’ll be asked:
- Employer’s name and address
- Your occupation, job title and industry sector
- Your details, including your national insurance number and your pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) reference
- Whether you’re claiming flat-rate expenses (usually you will be, if not, you’ll need detailed records of costs)
- How you want to be paid – into your bank account or by cheque
If you have claimed before, you shouldn’t need to do anything as your tax code should have adjusted.
However if you think your tax code hasn’t adjusted, you can call HMRC on 0300 200 3310.
Once HMRC processes your claim, it will send a letter back telling you how much you’re eligible for and when it’ll come through.
What can I claim tax relief on?
THERE are certain things that you can claim tax on under HMRC rules. They include the following:
- Expenses for working from home
- Repairing or replacing small tools needed to do their job (for example, scissors or an electric drill)
- Cleaning, repairing or replacing specialist clothing (for example, a branded uniform or safety boots)
- Business mileage (not commuting)
- Travel and overnight expenses
- Professional fees and subscriptions
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