Claiming back tax from union subscriptions?

princess*daisy

Hi all,

Not sure if I have posted in the right place but here goes. My friend told me that you can claim back tax paid on union subscriptions (if you have overpaid, of course). I am wondering how I would know if I am eligible for a rebate (would I know just by looking at my tax code?) and how I would go about getting it if I was owed?

Thanks in advance

mildred1978

princess*daisy wrote: »

Hi all,

Not sure if I have posted in the right place but here goes. My friend told me that you can claim back tax paid on union subscriptions (if you have overpaid, of course). I am wondering how I would know if I am eligible for a rebate (would I know just by looking at my tax code?) and how I would go about getting it if I was owed?

Thanks in advance

Your friend is wrong.

They are not tax deductible, so you can't claim.

princess*daisy

Thanks for the reply. Is that the case even if my union is on the list of HMRC Approved Bodies?

mildred1978

princess*daisy wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. Is that the case even if my union is on the list of HMRC Approved Bodies?

Is membership optional?

princess*daisy

Yes, it's optional? I'm guessing this means I won't be entitled to a rebate? Ahh well, never mind.

dzug1

Ask the union - they will know if all or part (more likely) of their subscription qualifies for tax relief

TM1976

Technically union subs aren't tax deductable, however if they are on HMR&C's list of approved bodies, which quite a few are, they are. Memebership doesn't have to be compulsory, but they do need to be related to your job.

The list is here. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/list3/index.htm

00ec25

princess*daisy wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. Is that the case even if my union is on the list of HMRC Approved Bodies?

if your union is on the approved list then yes you can claim tax relief, it does not matter if membership is optional or compulsory, it is the body which is approved not its membership criteria - see HMRC list http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/list3/u.htm

note that with qualifying union subs it is common that only part of the sub is allowable for the tax relief - your union website should provide the relevant % (for example with UCU only 67% is allowable) HMRC expect your union to pass on this info http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/relief-subs.htm

as regards how to claim the tax relief see HMRC guide it depends if you do or don't already fill out a tax return - all explained here: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/how-to-get.htm

agrinnall

Is there any job in which Trade Union membership is compulsary? I thought Maggie had got rid of anything like that years ago.

Supertrouper_2

we've been told at work - I'm a teaching assistant, that we can claim ours back.