Tax back on professional membership?

Mikeyorks

Not unless you're still paying? 6 years is now too far to go back.

laurettamckinnon

Thanks for that......had the feeling That I would be out of luck AND money.....even though a member of NAS/UWT for 29yrs!!

TM1976

laurettamckinnon wrote: »

Thanks for that......had the feeling That I would be out of luck AND money.....even though a member of NAS/UWT for 29yrs!!

The information here is correct, 6 years is the longest you can go back. As it's now 2012 it may be worth mentioning that you can still claim tax back for the 2005/06 tax year, but you have to claim before 31st January. You can also claim for the 2006/07 tax year until 31st March.

If you are retired you can't claim but if you still do some paid teaching work in the year you can claim for your subs. As this is money saving forum I could also suggest that if you don't do or intend to do any teaching in the future you may as well just cancel these subscriptions.

dampsquib

laurettamckinnon wrote: »

Can I claim union subs...even though I retired 6 yrs ago?

I feel a little clarification is needed here.
Tax Relief cannot be claimed for union subscriptions.
Tax Relief is due on subscriptions to Professional Bodies.
Fortunately for teachers, their unions are accepted by HMRC as being professional bodies, so relief is due on the subs.
HMRC maintains a list of bodies which qualify - it's called "List 3" and it can be found on their website

jem16

dampsquib wrote: »

I feel a little clarification is needed here.
Tax Relief cannot be claimed for union subscriptions.
Tax Relief is due on subscriptions to Professional Bodies.
Fortunately for teachers, their unions are accepted by HMRC as being professional bodies, so relief is due on the subs.
HMRC maintains a list of bodies which qualify - it's called "List 3" and it can be found on their website

So just for clarification - if completing a tax return the amount for the Teaching Union should actually be entered under subscriptions to professional Bodies and not the death benefits for union fees?

dampsquib

jem16 wrote: »

So just for clarification - if completing a tax return the amount for the Teaching Union should actually be entered under subscriptions to professional Bodies and not the death benefits for union fees?

Correct!
Use the "Professional fees and subscriptions" box on the Employment page.

manfriday_2

Can anyone who successfully claimed this back tell us how long it took for HMRC to process the claim? I sent my letter to them over a month ago but still haven't heard anything back yet. Wondering if this is jsut the length of time it takes or if I should be following it up just to check they received the letter.

Mikeyorks

At least a month. Give them a few more weeks.