Wash your uniform at home ?

Hoddie_2

a permanent and conspicuous badge or logo to what would otherwise be ordinary clothing is not enough to make it a uniform.

SE32475 states "Fixing a permanent and conspicuous badge to what would otherwise be ordinary clothing may be enough to make it a uniform, but each case must be considered on its merits. ... A detachable badge is not sufficient to make the clothing to which it is attached part of a uniform."

SE32485 states "...a deduction can be permitted for the cost of laundering protective clothing or uniforms ... some employees are covered by a nationally agreed flat rate expense that includes laundry costs ... other employees the amounts set out below may be accepted as a reasonable estimate of the deductible expense ... year 1998/99 and later years - £45.

It would appear that they've redrafted the official guidance to suit their own purpose. If it were me I'd appeal in writing and request they cover the cost of me having to do so!

Hoddie_2

In fact I'd even go so far as to demand an explantion as to how

"Fixing a permanent and conspicuous badge to what would otherwise be ordinary clothing may be enough to make it a uniform"

became

"Fixing a permanent and conspicuous badge or logo to what would otherwise be ordinary clothing is not enough to make it a uniform"

in their response to you.

Hoddie_2

A request for 'pictures' of a uniform is unheard of. If HMRC want to query the claim the standard course of action is to contact the employer, normally because a successful claim from one employee results in many claims from other employees from the same company - better to get the first one right than simply hand out cash based on a single error.

Creating pictures and sending them to HMRC costs money. My post above does read like a 'call to arms' because it was. Their response was ill thought out and sloppy, and - just as the OP was considering - many would just forget about it.

Clackerooney

Thanks for both of your replies. I think I'll write another letter, the cost of another stamp won't hurt and I have free credits in my photobox account (after moaning about a late delivery!) so the pictures will be free. (Perhaps I'll send a picture of me all logoed up, looking grumpy and giving two thumbs down to the taxman! )

I'll write something like..
"I'm rather puzzled by your response. As I understand it, under manual SE32475, I am entitled to a deduction...
Your reply to me is worded slightly differently to this and excludes me.
If the guidelines have now been changed then I will of course [FONT=&quot]accept[/FONT] your decision. However, if you have simply misinterpreted the guidelines then I would ask you to reconsider."
Seems reasonable..and not quite a call to arms!

Another slighly worrying part to the letter is that even if they do decide I wear a uniform I may not get any money as.."There is no fixed rate expense negotiated nationally with employees of your particular occupation."
They don't even know what my occupation is! My job title is pretty ambiguous.

Clackerooney

jimmo wrote: »

If he provides you with logo-ed clothing which is not a uniform then he is required to report the taxable benefits he is providing to his staff.

I think I will mention this to my employer and to the taxman. If the rules are very black and white, my clothes are either a benefit or uniform. I would certainly take issue with my t-shirts and fleeces with my horrible orange logo being counted as a taxable benefit!
Thanks,

deanos

Seems very odd, you are the first as far as im aware to get rejected, good luck.

shandypants5

Is everyone aware that anyone doing a "skilled" job that needs to provide their own tools, can claim an allowance for this too..

Katiebennett

Hi i have wrote the letter and its all ready to go i work for GAME Ltd and i was wondering were i send the form off too i have worked for them for over six years so i was hoping i could get a rebate back too.

please help its all ready to go but no were to send it

IanatSeaton

deanos wrote: »

Wash your uniform at home ?
Thanks that's a great tip, and its like getting money for nothing, well just the cost of a stamp for £45 x 6 years = £270 @ at least 20p per £ = at least a £54 refund. Well worth the cost of a stamp.

Thomas_Crown

Katiebennett wrote: »

Hi i have wrote the letter and its all ready to go i work for GAME Ltd and i was wondering were i send the form off too i have worked for them for over six years so i was hoping i could get a rebate back too.

please help its all ready to go but no were to send it

Look at for address on your Income Tax Assessment form for 2007/08 & it should be at the top of the page. If you can't find last years form then wait because you should soon be getting your 2008/09 form from HMRC.