‘Millions’ of Britons could be missing out on vital tax relief for job expenses

While high living costs continue to squeeze pockets, Britons are being urged to check they’re receiving all of the financial support they’re entitled to.

One area of financial support people may be less aware of comes in the form of tax relief for job expenses.

Tax relief on professional essentials applies to employed people and covers a number of costs, from washing uniforms to working from home.

Jack Mackreth, an expert at accountancy firm Kyzen Sports said: “Millions of Britons are owed money for spending on job-related expenses.”

According to HMRC, more than 800,000 people claimed tax refunds for work expenses during 2021/22.

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Mr Mackreth said: “If you’re employed and you spend your own money on work-related expenses then you could be entitled to claim tax relief on this.

“Every penny counts and it’s important that hard-working people are getting what they are owed.”

People who must wear a uniform to work, such as nurses and police officers, or those who wear specialist clothing such as overalls and work boots, may be able to claim tax back on the cost of washing, repairing and replacing them.

People aren’t allowed to claim if their employer offers a laundry service and they choose not to use it, or if they buy everyday clothes that they wear for work.

People may also be able to claim tax back on the cost of working from home if their employer doesn’t have an office.

Mr Mackreth said: “You can either claim for tax relief on a flat rate of £6 a week or you can claim tax back on your individual expenses, but you will need to provide proof of the expenses such as bills and receipts.

“You can’t claim for things that you use for both your business and personal life, such as broadband access.”

The tax relief also does not apply to those who have the option to go into the office but choose to work from home.

Mr Mackreth added: “Many workplaces chose to close their physical offices after the COVID-19 lockdowns. If you are one of the people affected by this, make sure you are claiming for what you are entitled to.”

Jobs that require employees to hold professional memberships, such as those in medicine, accounting or law, could be eligible for tax relief on the cost of these fees, too.

Mr Mackreth said: “HMRC holds a list of all approved professional organisations and learned societies, so check if yours is on the list. As well as claiming for the current tax year, you can also claim for the previous four years.”

Other equipment used for work, such as computers or tools, could also be eligible for tax relief if they are needed for a person to carry out their job and their employer hasn’t paid for them.

Employees could also be eligible to claim tax back on the cost of overnight expenses as well as travel if they are using a vehicle for work, but commuting to and from the office is not included.

Mr Mackreth said: “HMRC’s portal on Gov.uk holds a list of expenses that people can claim tax relief on. It can often be time-consuming to do this process yourself, so some choose to use a company to do it on their behalf.”