In our cash-strapped times, it’s
quite often the little things that make all the difference. There are so many
different allowances and tax rebates that you can claim through your employment,
it pays to consult an expert for advice.
Did you know, for example, that
if you work in an environment where you’re compelled to wear a uniform, you
might be able to claim some money back from the government to cover the costs of
keeping your work clothes clean and laundered? You might be looking at tax
relief on 20% of the standard cost, which HMRC sets at £60 per year. OK, so that
might not be a lot, but it’s a start, and you can also claim for any previous
years so every little helps.
Some trades can claim more than
the standard £60 for their uniform tax relief, including banks and building
society staff, construction engineers, electrical and electricity supply
tradespeople, fire service workers, and healthcare staff working for the NHS.
There are other industries that can claim a higher rate too, so consult an
expert like Barrie
Bookkeeping if
you think the uniform rules might apply to you.
Do you wear a uniform?
In some cases it’s obvious that
you’re wearing a uniform, but in other occupations it might not be so clear cut.
Does your employer make you wear branded clothing (with a corporate logo) to
work? If so, you might also be in line for a tax rebate. The same might apply to
you if you have to wear safety shoes or a high-viz jacket, as these are items
you are made to wear to ensure that you’re safe at work. If you just wear the
company’s clothes (for example if you work in a clothing shop and have to wear
clothes from their collection) it’s not counted as a uniform, because you would
be able to wear the clothes outside work, too.
In most cases, employers don’t do
this for their staff, so the responsibility to apply for any tax relief you’re
owed is yours. If it turns out that your employer has already applied, and
you’re getting the allowance, you’ll just get a letter from the tax office
telling you so. The money comes directly from HMRC so there’s no need to worry
about your employer being annoyed at having to pay out extra cash.
If you think you could be
entitled to claim some money back from HMRC because you have to wear a work
uniform, you can make an application yourself, or you might prefer to consult a
bookkeeper or tax expert who can advise you
and make the claim on your behalf. It shouldn’t take long to get any money
through that you’re owed - most claims are completed within 12 weeks. You should
receive a cheque for the tax you have over paid, and in the future your tax will
be calculated to take the allowance into account, so you’ll notice a little bit
more money every month.
