Claiming tax releif on work wear.

[cal72]

Just after a bit of advice regarding thread title.
I have worn a corporate uniform for 3 years now and have to clean it myself and get nothing from our company towards the cost.
I also have to purchase my own shoes as per our contract it says we have to wear black shoes/boots.
The FIL this weekend said i should claim it back in tax.
So are there any pit-falls in claiming tax against these costs or am i just better off just doing as i always have and save the hassle??

TIA
Chris.

ETA.
I work as a security officer doing reception duties and have looked on the gov site for tax relief of workwear and cannot find any info regarding my area of work.

Edited by cal72 on Tuesday 31st May 08:14

[JBM78]

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/relief-tools.htm

If the uniform and shoes could reasonably be worn outside of work (i.e. plain black shoes), you might be on dodgy ground to claim tax relief.

Edited by JBM78 on Tuesday 31st May 08:46

[Eric Mc]

Clothing usually has to be either a dedicated uniform (logos, badges etc) or safety weear (helmets, safetry goggles, steel capped boots etc) for tax relief to be obtainable.

[cal72]

Thanks chaps.
The only logo is on the shirts but the rest of the uniform is black suit and clip on tie.
I know that some of our relief officers were given vouchers for dry cleaning but we never received any.(and they have now stopped providing them).
I dry clean my uniform every 2 weeks and at £35 a month thought it might be worth looking into.
So it is not worth the hassle then?

[shed driver]

Not sure whether it's entirely relevant, but health care workers can get tax relief on their laundry costs and on tights and shoes (backdated for 6 years)
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:aGzn...

Hope this helps.

SD

[Eric Mc]

Some professions and classes of employments have negotiated with HMRC (usually by their respective unions - they do have their uses) for flat rate allowances for items such as clothing or uniform provision and/or cleaning.

It might be worthwhile searching the HMRC website using your activity as the prime search word - such as "Nurse's Clothing Alloweance" oe "Airline Pilot Uniform Allowance".

[mph1977]

JBM78 said:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/relief-tools.htm

If the uniform and shoes could reasonably be worn outside of work (i.e. plain black shoes), you might be on dodgy ground to claim tax relief.

Edited by JBM78 on Tuesday 31st May 08:46

despite the fact that Nurses and Midwives have an established tax relief for footwear and hosiery ...

[Eric Mc]

mph1977 said:

JBM78 said:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/relief-tools.htm

If the uniform and shoes could reasonably be worn outside of work (i.e. plain black shoes), you might be on dodgy ground to claim tax relief.

Edited by JBM78 on Tuesday 31st May 08:46

despite the fact that Nurses and Midwives have an established tax relief for footwear and hosiery ...

As I said, some industries and occupations negotiated separately with HMRC (or the Inland Revenue of days gone by) and obtained specific relief for their workers. There are, therefore, two sets of data that need to be checked before making a claim for work clothing -

the fairly restrictive general rules

any special rules that may apply to workers in your occupation

[Road2Ruin]

cal72 said:

Just after a bit of advice regarding thread title.
I have worn a corporate uniform for 3 years now and have to clean it myself and get nothing from our company towards the cost.
I also have to purchase my own shoes as per our contract it says we have to wear black shoes/boots.
The FIL this weekend said i should claim it back in tax.
So are there any pit-falls in claiming tax against these costs or am i just better off just doing as i always have and save the hassle??

TIA
Chris.

ETA.
I work as a security officer doing reception duties and have looked on the gov site for tax relief of workwear and cannot find any info regarding my area of work.

Edited by cal72 on Tuesday 31st May 08:14

I wear my own clothes and shoes to work and have to clean those! Can I claim the tax back? No, everyone has to clean something (we hope). As Eric said only PPE or logo branded work wear will have a chance of being eligble, but the laundry side of things, no chance.