Tax Refund...... Idiots question.

Tax Refund...... Idiots question.

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Discussion

Dan_1981

Original Poster:

17,397 posts

199 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
I read today that if you have to wear a uniform for work and have to clean it yourself you can make a refund claim to HMRC.

I've had a quick look around their website and it does apear that you can indeed claim back set amounts for having to wash your own uniform.

This section seems to cover it

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM32485.h...

Now its only 50 / 60 quid a year but I belive that you can claim back for up to 6 years?

So how does one go about doing so?

Thanks in advance.

KelWedge

1,279 posts

185 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
One of the engineers at my workplace tried this. (me being the FD and him talking to me first)

You have to write to the inland Revenue office that looks after your Tax, your employer can tell you this if you dont know, dont forget to invlude your employers referance number as well as your NIC Number.

Then wait, when they dont reply, write again, and again as they are not that good at present at sorting things, they may also write to your employer as well, so keep them informed of what you are doing.

They turned our engineer down on the grounds that his Workshop overalls did not have any Company Logo's on them!

Always worth a try.

Eric Mc

122,038 posts

265 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
Who bought the uniform?

Is it a badged uniform?

Who cleans it?

RichB

51,591 posts

284 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
And, I assume, have you kept receipts?

Dan_1981

Original Poster:

17,397 posts

199 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Who bought the uniform?

Is it a badged uniform?

Who cleans it?
Uniform provided FOC by the company.

Yes its badged

Its cleaned by ourselves with the household laundrey.

Defcon5

6,184 posts

191 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
A few of the lads at work have done this, some have got cheques back, some have had their tax code altered.

All it took was the single letter, only one person has been sent a form to fill in.

Will be sending my letter off asap!

KelWedge

1,279 posts

185 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
Dan_1981 said:
Eric Mc said:
Who bought the uniform?

Is it a badged uniform?

Who cleans it?
Uniform provided FOC by the company.

Yes its badged

Its cleaned by ourselves with the household laundrey.
Send a letter off

Engineer1

10,486 posts

209 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
There was a thing done by the RCN on this as most nurses have to wash their own uniforms and provide tights if they are wearing a uniform dress, my wife got a cheque back and an altered ta code to reflect this ongoing work related cost.
Send a letter in you may need to fill in forms afterwards but you should get something back if you can prove it is a legit claim.

Eric Mc

122,038 posts

265 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
Dan_1981 said:
Eric Mc said:
Who bought the uniform?

Is it a badged uniform?

Who cleans it?
Uniform provided FOC by the company.

Yes its badged

Its cleaned by ourselves with the household laundrey.
How much does it actually cost you per annum to clean the uniform?

Are you a Higher Rate Taxpayer?

Dan_1981

Original Poster:

17,397 posts

199 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Dan_1981 said:
Eric Mc said:
Who bought the uniform?

Is it a badged uniform?

Who cleans it?
Uniform provided FOC by the company.

Yes its badged

Its cleaned by ourselves with the household laundrey.
How much does it actually cost you per annum to clean the uniform?

Are you a Higher Rate Taxpayer?
Lower rate tax payer.

Its 5 shirts a week to be washed, ironed etc.

I suppose the actual cost isn't that great but if the rule exists to allow me to claim a set amount back as seems to be what the website I linked to is showing then surely I'd be foolish not to do so?

RichB

51,591 posts

284 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
Dan_1981 said:
Its 5 shirts a week to be washed, ironed etc.

I suppose the actual cost isn't that great but if the rule exists to allow me to claim a set amount back as seems to be what the website I linked to is showing then surely I'd be foolish not to do so?
Fiar enough. Using logic one wonders why I would not therefore be entitled to claim the cost of washing and ironing the shirts I wear with my suit everyday.

Eric Mc

122,038 posts

265 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
Dan_1981 said:
Lower rate tax payer.

Its 5 shirts a week to be washed, ironed etc.

I suppose the actual cost isn't that great but if the rule exists to allow me to claim a set amount back as seems to be what the website I linked to is showing then surely I'd be foolish not to do so?
There is no specific rule for a set amount. If you want to make a claim, you would need to calculate the annual cost to you of the laundry amounts incurred in cleaning the uniform. The claim would be based on the actual costs incurred.

In some circumastances, a cost of uniform claim MAY be based on a globallly agreed figure agreed with HMRC. These amounts are usually set for specific industries and are often amounts that were negotiated by Trades Unions on behalf of their members. Airline pilots, nurses, policemen etc are often covered by such agreements.

Eric Mc

122,038 posts

265 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
RichB said:
Fiar enough. Using logic one wonders why I would not therefore be entitled to claim the cost of washing and ironing the shirts I wear with my suit everyday.
HMRC logic is that ordinary clothing ( i.e. non uniform or safety clothing) can NEVER be claimed for on the basis that the clothing cannot be shown to be "wholly, exclusively and NECESSARILLY for the purpose of the employment".

SlimRick

2,258 posts

165 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
quotequote all
BT / Openreach employees can claim allowances for cleaning their uniform - speak to your local tax office, you will need to write to them and IIRC, you can claim back 3 years worth.

Eric Mc

122,038 posts

265 months

Monday 17th October 2011
quotequote all
SlimRick said:
BT / Openreach employees can claim allowances for cleaning their uniform - speak to your local tax office, you will need to write to them and IIRC, you can claim back 3 years worth.
That's in line with what I said above. Openreach probably have a "deal" with HMRC which would have been negotiated with HMRC by BT (or maybe even the old Post Office).

There is nothing to stop an individual doing their own negotiation but on the whole HMRC are not overly keen on flat rate expense amounts.

But you won't get anything if you don't try.

Y282

20,566 posts

172 months

Monday 17th October 2011
quotequote all
NEVER SPEAK TO THE TAX MAN.



EVER.

Eric Mc

122,038 posts

265 months

Monday 17th October 2011
quotequote all
Y282 said:
NEVER SPEAK TO THE TAX MAN.



EVER.
Sorry - nonsense.

In this case, it would be a useful exercise.

The problem is getting through to them.

Y282

20,566 posts

172 months

Monday 17th October 2011
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Y282 said:
NEVER SPEAK TO THE TAX MAN.



EVER.
Sorry - nonsense.

In this case, it would be a useful exercise.

The problem is getting through to them.
He's trying to trick you, don't look into his eyes!!

Dan_1981

Original Poster:

17,397 posts

199 months

Monday 17th October 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for all the useful info so far.

Its actually for the GF - and she works for a BT company, so hopefully something is set in place.

It can't hurt to send a letter off.