Can I claim any tax back for working from home

yorksherpud

I work for a company but actually am based in my home office. I am paid by the company and my tax deducted as if I worked in there offices. I work for 26 hours a week although some weeks work more.

Can anyone tell me if I'm entitled to a rebate or allowance in my tax due to working from home?

I should add the company do not me any extra for using my electricity / heating / Broadband. They do however pay for a dedicated land line (but this is not the one used for my emails and web connection I pay for that).

Kind regards

Pud x

fengirl_2

If your contract requires you to work from home, you can claim a deduction of £3pw for the use of a room at home. You could also claim for internet connection, but as your employer is paying for another line, I think the two would cancel each other out.
Just write a letter to your tax office setting out your claim.

yorksherpud

Thank you Fengirl, I will get on to the tax office on Monday, it might only be £3.00 a week but that's £156 a year. Do you know if they do the back-dating thing that they seem to do with so much else? I've worked from home for the last 3 years.

Kind regards

Pud x

fengirl_2

Yes, you can claim this allowance back up to 6 yrs. You will need to provide a copy of your contract of employment as proof that you are required to work from home.

yorksherpud

Thank you Fengirl, I will contact the tax office on Monday.

Kind regards

Pud x

wendylou_3

Hi - something similar to above....
could anyone tell me if you are entitled to extra payment if your employer suddenly changes your working arrangements - My OH has been informed that the local office (less than a 5 min car journey) is being closed and he now has to work from home. When he enquired about extra allowances he was told that the traveling costs should cancel out any extra heating/electricity costs. I think this is unacceptable - especially with the rise in fuel bills - capped tho thanks to MMS!!;)

Anyone out there with any ideas????:mad:

Sagz_2

Thank you yorksherpud for asking & fengirl for answering - I'm gonna be rich!
(well, £3 a week better off hopefully)

robert_harper_2000

What about if your employer didn't give you a contract?

LittleVoice

robert_harper_2000 wrote: »

What about if your employer didn't give you a contract?

Legislation requires employers to provide written particulars (which include place of work) within 8 weeks of employment starting.

brownfrog

fengirl wrote: »

If your contract requires you to work from home, you can claim a deduction of £3pw for the use of a room at home. You could also claim for internet connection, but as your employer is paying for another line, I think the two would cancel each other out.
Just write a letter to your tax office setting out your claim.

It might be worth checking with your accoutnant about this - the above was correct (although I think the allowance was £2, not £3), but HMRC clarified the rules in June: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/BIM47825.htm

The reason many people didn't claim as a proportion of the building was because they were all afraid they'd get nobbled for capital gains tax or business rates, but a recent court case about this was decided in favour of the householder. Therefore it's worth seeing if you can claim a proportion of your mortgage interest, council tax etc. In the OP's case, it seems example 1 might fit.

stphnstevey

Is the £3 paid tax free by the employer or claimed as an allowance by the employee?