HM Revenue and Customs has issued a reminder
Employees have been encouraged to check if they could be entitled to tax relief. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has issued a reminder about what can be claimed.
In a post shared on social media platform X, HMRC suggested that you might be eligible for tax relief if your job involves a lot of travel. The message read: “Covering your own travel costs for work?
“You might be due tax relief. Claim directly with HMRC to keep every penny you’re owed.”
On GOV.UK, more detailed information is provided about what can be claimed. It stated: “If you meet the eligibility criteria, you might be able to claim tax relief for the following types of work expenses.”
These include:
- Working from home
- Uniforms, work clothing and tools
- Vehicles you use for work
- Professional fees and subscriptions
- Travel, subsistence, and overnight expenses
- Purchasing other equipment
However, it cautioned: “But you will need to double check you’re eligible first so that you don’t get caught out.”
You may be able to claim tax relief if:
- You spend your own money on items that are necessary for your job
- You only use these items for your work
You cannot claim tax relief if your employer either reimburses you:
- All the money
- An alternative, for example, your employer provides you with a laptop but you want a different type or model
If your employer has covered some of your expenses, you can only claim tax relief on the amount they have not paid.
How much you can receive
GOV.UK states: “You must have paid tax in the year you’re claiming for. The amount of tax relief you get cannot be more than the amount of tax you paid in that year.
“You’ll get tax relief based on what you’ve spent and the rate at which you pay tax.” For instance, if you claim £60 and pay tax at a rate of 20 per cent in that year, the sum you are entitled to is £12 (20 per cent of £60).
Travel and overnight expenses
Explaining more about travel claims, GOV.UK clarified that you cannot claim for:
- Travelling or commuting to and from your regular place of work
- Lunch costs when you are travelling to your usual workplace. You can only claim expenses for food and drink when travelling to a temporary place of work
- Food you bring from home when travelling to a temporary workplace. You can only claim the cost of food you purchased during your time away
Claim directly with HMRC
GOV.UK advised: “It’s fast, free and simple to claim work expenses with us directly via GOV.UK. You won’t have to pay any agent fees or commission if you do it yourself.
“For most expense claims, you will need to provide evidence to support your claim. The evidence will vary depending on the expense type you are claiming.
“It’s quick and easy to check what evidence is required using our eligibility checker page, and you can submit your claim and evidence online or through the post.” Firstly, you need to verify your eligibility using the Government’s online eligibility checker tool here.
