Tax-deductible expenses and PAYE?

Rosie75

I'm wondering if anyone can tell me anything about tax relief for professional expenses for university lecturers. I've been in the job for eight years and have only just found out that my union subscriptions and various professional subscriptions I have are tax deductible up to 67%. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg as far as my work-related expenses are concerned. I spend a significant amount of my own money each year (on average around 10% of my take-home salary) on books, conference travel and fees, travel to distant libraries for research purposes, fees for copyright / reproductions when I publish. There is also an assumption that academic staff maintain an office at home - for example, during research leave I tend to lose my office at work to a replacement worker and have to work from home.

Does anyone know if any of this stuff is tax-deductible?

bankhater_1965

all i can say is that myself is self employed and i can claim 1 room in my house as an office and for that reason i can claim 15% of the annual cost of gas,electric,water and i think council tax , they may be more im unsure as my accountant does all mine , hope it helps a little

jimmo

First and foremost, you can only claim back any tax you have overpaid for 2008/09 onwards. Earlier years are now out of date.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/correct-mistakes.htm



For professional subscriptions see the list here.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/list3/list3.htm#1

For everything else see “Teachers, Lecturers and Tutors here.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM70199.htm

　

PlutoinCapricorn

I assume that you are on PAYE, in which case the post from a self employed person is not relevant.

I am sorry that you are too late to claim the earlier years: I am surprised that you didn't know about the claimable items because many unions recommend (for payment) companies that will claim on your behalf (for a percentage).

There is a flat rate for people on PAYE who work at home, but only when their contract of employment states that their main place of work is their home address.

Rosie75

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I am on PAYE. Even going back just four years for subscriptions will be something.

The links which Jimmo has provided relating to lecturers are very helpful - and, it appears, well-hidden on the HMRC's webpages, as I wasn't able to find anything like this earlier today by googling! It does seem that some of my expenses might be allowable (working from home, some research expenses) and others (books, conference attendance) not.

Presumably this all means that I will need to complete a tax return in the future? I've not had to do that before, and hope it is not completely beyond my comprehension!

PlutoinCapricorn

You do not need to self asses just for expenses: it can be done with a letter.