Professional Bodies & Tax Allowances

carlos1973

I'm going through my past six years taxes claiming back laundry costs for uniforms and have noticed a lot of mistakes with calculations and tax paid.
I used to work as an outdoor instructor and in order to use my paddling qualifications I had to be a member of the British Canoe Union at a cost of £35 a year. Can I claim anything back for this?
At the moment I'm working for Tesco and paid £100 this year for USDAW membership, can I claim for this as well?
Also I have been paying into a pension for the past 2 years, £765 & £615, I have recieved a NI rebate due to this of £10.92 & £12.00. Are any other allowances / rebates I can ask for on these contributions.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Money_Grabber13579

With regards to professional contributions, these need to be wholly, necessarily and exclusively for work purposes. So it sounds like the canoe membership is allowable however is the USCAW necessary for Tesco's? (It's a union, but you don't have to join so I'd say no for this.

If your pension is coming out of your salary, then you are getting tax rebate on this, which it sounds like you are due to the NI relief. In not, these will be allowable expenses.

Johnhowell

Carlos,

My understanding is that if you pay for a professional subscription necessary for your work and your employer pays you back under expenses, then you can not claim it as well from HMRC.

A friend also works for Tesco and has his tax code increased for the uniform cleaning allowance. Also, I have never seen such poor quality pay slips - flimsy paper, seems to always be running out of ink and poorly aligned so you can not tell which number is in which cell!

Regards,
John

wallace53

Johnhowell. You are correct, IF the employer has a "dispensation" for not disclosing the payment on the employee's P11D (benefits in kind form). Otherwise, and strictly, it should be on that form (as additional income), but claimed as an expense by the employee on his tax return, or by writing to HMRC. (Unnecessarily complicated, or what?)

carlos1973

Johnhowell wrote: »

Carlos,

My understanding is that if you pay for a professional subscription necessary for your work and your employer pays you back under expenses, then you can not claim it as well from HMRC.

A friend also works for Tesco and has his tax code increased for the uniform cleaning allowance. Also, I have never seen such poor quality pay slips - flimsy paper, seems to always be running out of ink and poorly aligned so you can not tell which number is in which cell!

Regards,
John

If they are unsure of any of the entries then they can the wages clerk to check on their screen. Annoying I know but every store is the same.

carlos1973

Thanks everyone for all the answers. I should get my P60 on Friday so a letter is due for the Taxman I think. Cheers.