Wash your uniform at home ?

jetters_2

Had the cheque for £23.28 this morning, bank account shuddered as it dropped in :rotfl:

00ec25

Doddie wrote: »

Some things have changed since then, an updated page is available on MSE but being a new user the forum software is blocking me from posting a direct link to the page.

That said, if you google "uniform tax rebate money saving expert" (without the quotes) you should find the page easily enough.

which will take you to exactly the same place as clicking the link (hint blue is the colour of a hyperlink) provided in #1 on this thread to start with , ie the bit at the top in large letters saying We now have a full MSE Guide on this:Free Uniform Tax Rebates

I agree that its not obvious for newbies there is a link hidden there though, helps if you read all of #1 fully rather than waiting for someone else to provide the answer

please note it may have been "updated" Sept 12 but it is still wrong in places, notably you cannot now claim any earlier than April 2008 so it is now 4 years back to 08/09 plus this current tax year ie 12/13 so the lowest rate you can get is £60

for the benefit of newbies please read and understand what is meant by tax relief . You do not get £60, you get the tax on it

jetters_2

Just a quick question for anyone:

Since I've been given the £60 allowance on my tax code for this year - with only one payment left this week before April/new tax year, does that mean I'll not have to pay £60 worth of tax this month?

If this is correct then going by my average wage my month's tax will be about £5-10?

paddedjohn

jetters wrote: »

Just a quick question for anyone:

Since I've been given the £60 allowance on my tax code for this year - with only one payment left this week before April/new tax year, does that mean I'll not have to pay £60 worth of tax this month?

If this is correct then going by my average wage my month's tax will be about £5-10?

£60 added to your tax allowance equates to a saving of £12 per year to the average 20% taxpayer.

jetters_2

Ah well. £12 off will be better than a kick in the face

emmaljonesbz

I gather from reading posts some people have made claims for plain clothing. Where I work we pay 25% towards uniform cost and company pays 75%, we're responsible for washing it.

Although technically we could wear the clothes out of work its in the uniform guidelines that we are only allowed to wear the uniform to work and not outside work.

Anyone in same situation successfully made a claim?

jetters_2

Update:

Remember a few years ago people started getting rebates for tax overpayments? Quite a few friends/family had it. I never had anything.

Well it seems that due to the digging Her Majesty's finest had to do to look into the Uniform side of things, I have received another cheque this morning, to the tune of nearly £300 due to an overpayment in 2010-11!

Amazing. :T :eek:

That's paying for the hotel for the mini-honeymoon for myself and Mrs Jetters-to-be! :beer:

emmaljonesbz

00ec25 wrote: »

just because some people got away with claiming plain clothes does not mean it is allowed. The rules are quite explicit on what is or is not a uniform and this is another area where the MSE guide is just plain wrong. If you want to try your luck with a con against HMRC then you may well get away with it, as they do limited checks for such piddling sums of money, but the fact remains test cases clearly define what is claimable in law. So is yours really a uniform or not as your post is ambiguous?

Also please clarify what you mean by you pay 25% - is that towards the cost of buying the "uniform" or of washing it?

We have to wear the clothing we sell instore, the company gives us an allowance to buy it of which we pay 25% and they pay 75%, I'm responsible for washing the clothing and the cost of washing also.

There's clear guidelines in our work uniform policy that states all clothing purchased as uniform must be worn as uniform only in work. Meaning we can't use our uniform allowance to just buy clothes and wear them out of work instead. Thats not to say some employees strictly stick to this. I myself associate my uniform with work and never wear it outside of work, therefore adhering to the company's uniform policy.

The only reason I'm asking if others have successfully made a claim is to help me decide whether its worth the time and effort making a claim. If I'm not eligible I won't make a claim, I just wanted some advice as to if I am eligible or not.

00ec25

emmaljonesbz wrote: »

There's clear guidelines in our work uniform policy that states all clothing purchased as uniform must be worn as uniform only in work.

as per the guide at #1 either it is or is not a uniform, you being "required" to wear "it" goes part way there BUT you need to answer 2 straight questions as the killer test is rather simple

a) would a reasonable person recognise that you are wearing a uniform rather than simply wearing what rather sounds like potted examples of the clothing you sell in store, ie it sounds like you are simply modelling some shop items for promotional purposes whilst at work rather than looking like you are all in corporate uniform; and

b) are there company logos permanently affixed to each piece of clothing

If you cannot say yes to both then its not a uniform and you cannot claim. Just the same as anyone required to wear a suit to work cannot claim for dry cleaning that - this is clearly established in law after some very famous test cases including the notorious "Wig" case. If on the other hand the clothing is in fact protective equipment (eg overalls) then you can claim, but given how vague you have been in your description I rather doubt that is the case.

Also if it is not a uniform then the fact the company contributes 75% towards the cost of buying "it" is actually a benefit on which you should pay tax, not reclaim tax since they are simply buying you ordinary clothing instead of paying you extra salary , ie its a benefit in kind. I am surprised that employees are not aware of the exact position because the company sure as heck ought to know

Loobylou14

A couple of months ago I wrote to my tax office Informing them that I had worked for the same company for 9 years and was responsible for laundering my uniform. I requested a rebate and so far have only received a new tax code saving me £50 a year from April. I have not received a rebate for previous years. Do I need to ring them or be patient for a little longer?