Can I claim Tax Relief for working from home?

Grumpy_Old_Duffer

My situation is that I'm employed and I work from home, but that's because I prefer not to travel 200 miles (round trip) each day to an office, so I'm happy & my employer is happy as they don't have to provide office space for me ... but they do supply me with a company car for when I do have to go to meetings . If push did come to shove I think my employer could insist that I work in one of their offices.

Can I claim Tax Relief for the costs incurred by me because I work from home, albeit being supplied with a company car, which I claim on PIID?

billywhizz

Yes in short, same situation as me, but your employment contract MUST state that you are a home worker, having an office and choosing not to go to it is different. From the website mentioned further down....

The question "who can claim?" is often more difficult to answer than "how much can be claimed?". It very much depends on the circumstances. As a general guideline, the following need to be satisfied:
. There can be no personal choice about working from home. It must be a requirement of the job.
. There must be no workspace available elsewhere.
. Living at a distance from your employer in itself is not actually sufficient reason. However, for someone like an area salesperson, this may well be a valid reason.
. It is also not actually sufficient if your employer asks you to work from home, unless the other criteria are satisfied. However, it does usually strengthen your case if your are asked to do so.

If in doubt ask the IR you have nothing to lose and technically you can backdate the claim as well if they agree to it.

You can claim against Gas, Electric & Council Tax bills. The calculation is based on the number of rooms in your house and having one room set aside as an office is more tax efficient.

http://www.taxbuddies.com/calchom.php Will help you to work out the calculation and finding where to fill in the figure on the Tax Return is a nightmare for me every year. You can inform the tax office and get the deduction done through your tax coding each year but I prefer to submit with my return and knock a little off my tax bill.

HTH.

Grumpy_Old_Duffer

billywhizz wrote:

.... but your employment contract MUST state that you are a home worker, having an office and choosing not to go to it is different.

!!!!!!!!! This is where I fall down as I choose to work from home .... it's not in my contract as being a requirement to work from home