Wash your uniform at home ?

Madrocks

Super thanks, wasnt sure if submitting all at one time would cause any issues, will submit all now

moneysavingselfemployed

I am self-employed but work in nhs healthcare and need to wash my uniform daily. Does anyone know whether I should be including the cost of laundry as an expense for my self-assessment and if so how much I can claim as an expense?

Many thanks

booksurr

moneysavingselfemployed wrote: »

I am self-employed but work in nhs healthcare and need to wash my uniform daily. Does anyone know whether I should be including the cost of laundry as an expense for my self-assessment and if so how much I can claim as an expense?

Many thanks

the self employed have to claim their actual costs incurred, just the same as all other expenses they incur when doing their work. Obviously it is therefore at your discretion how much you claim, but if HMRC ever spot it and challenge you then you will need to be able to justify your figure.

Naturally if you wash the uniform along with your own clothes HMRC would expect you to apportion the actual cost between business and non business as you presumably are used to doing for other things.

There is no definitive answer for how much a self employed person can "safely" claim, although of course sticking with the HMRC default rate is not a bad start point is it?

booksurr

Dird wrote: »

So people on here haven't gotten rebates for generics shirt/trousers on here then?

If I was not working I would not wear shirt/trousers/shoes
vis-a-vis, work clothing/uniform

I do not know if people have actually succeeded with non uniform claims and I have no idea if MSE checks out such claims or just repeats them at face value. What can be said with 100% certainty is if HMRC challenge you then the law says you will lose as a claim can only relate to a uniform as per the test cases such as the infamous "wig case".

I wear a suit, shirt and tie as per the dress code, it is not a uniform and I cannot claim. You, and many others, are in the same position, "work clothing" is not a uniform unless it meets the stated requirements of being a recognisable uniform, not merely smart work clothes rather than casual clothes, just live with it. The right clothes at work create the right impression and lead to retaining or progressing in your job....

SpideressUK

I am very confused....

Having watched one of Martin's programmes a while back my husband used the link on this website to claim a tax rebate for his work uniform. I thought that this meant the tax office changed his tax code so that year in year out he would pay slightly less tax (mabye £12.50 a year less) than he would had he not made a uniform claim - is this correct?

We have just received notification that a company called The Professional Fees and Subscriptions Rebate Service Ltd are taking a CVA and upon reading their info as to why my husband is someone owed money it seems to be to do with him laundering his own uniform. This company seem to collect the rebate from The Inland Revenue and keep 20% of it as their fee and let him have 80% of it back presumably as a tax rebate ie change in tax code....is this likely correct?

If they now have a CVA and it is saying he is owed nearly £500 but he might only get 66p in every £ owed back and even that might take 2 years then what is happening with his claim for uniform laundering? Is he no longer getting any tax allowance for washing his own uniform?

tasticz

I work as a civil engineer and have PPE (high vis jackets / trousers / hats / boots) Can i claim? if yes what will my occupation fall under as it is not clear... Thanks

sheramber

SpideressUK wrote: »

I am very confused....

Having watched one of Martin's programmes a while back my husband used the link on this website to claim a tax rebate for his work uniform. I thought that this meant the tax office changed his tax code so that year in year out he would pay slightly less tax (mabye £12.50 a year less) than he would had he not made a uniform claim - is this correct?

We have just received notification that a company called The Professional Fees and Subscriptions Rebate Service Ltd are taking a CVA and upon reading their info as to why my husband is someone owed money it seems to be to do with him laundering his own uniform. This company seem to collect the rebate from The Inland Revenue and keep 20% of it as their fee and let him have 80% of it back presumably as a tax rebate ie change in tax code....is this likely correct?

If they now have a CVA and it is saying he is owed nearly £500 but he might only get 66p in every £ owed back and even that might take 2 years then what is happening with his claim for uniform laundering? Is he no longer getting any tax allowance for washing his own uniform?

These mail shots are usually speculaltve.

They do not do anything that you cannot do yourself , direct with HMRC , but cream off some of your rebate.

You can check your husband's code number to see if it includes an allowance , or get him to phone HMRC and ask. if he has already getting the allowance then there is nothing more to get.

booksurr

tasticz wrote: »

I work as a civil engineer and have PPE (high vis jackets / trousers / hats / boots) Can i claim? if yes what will my occupation fall under as it is not clear... Thanks

I assume a "civil engineer" is engaged in "constructional engineering" and therefore surely the category is obvious???

They even give the following definition to really make it clear: "constructional engineering” means engineering undertaken on a construction site, including buildings, shipyards, bridges, roads and other similar operations;

so your claim is for
Constructional Engineering > d. All other workers. > £100

scarybex

I work in IT for a university but I do have mandatory logo'd uniform. I have read the guide which says I can claim, yet the government list of occupations doesn't match mine. Does this mean I cannot claim after all?

booksurr

scarybex wrote: »

I work in IT for a university but I do have mandatory logo'd uniform. I have read the guide which says I can claim, yet the government list of occupations doesn't match mine. Does this mean I cannot claim after all?

goodness knows how many times people have asked that in this thread yet still MSE will not edit the fist post to spell it out to readers

2nd para of the HMRC page linked from the guide says:
"For general laundry expenses for uniforms and other protective clothing not covered by the agreements in the following table, see EIM32485"

in plain English that means if you cannot find what you are looking for in the list below then click the link instead....

For employees who are not covered by a nationally agreed flat rate expense the amounts set out below may be accepted as a reasonable estimate of the deductible expense.
...
year amount per year
2008/09 onwards £60


In fairness to MSE, if people actually read the MSE guide rather than just the info in the first post, it should be blinking obvious ..
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/uniform-tax-rebate

How much could I get?
The amount you're able to claim tax relief on depends on your industry. The standard flat rate expense allowance (FREA) for uniform maintenance is £60 (for 2016/17)...Some occupations have more specific limits,... Check the full list of occupations to see if yours is listed. (I suppose they need to add in there if it is not listed you get the £60 already mentioned just to be on the safe side )