Teacher Union Tax Refund

thegirlintheattic

I have been told that I can reclaim tax on my union subscription but after a quick look at the HMRC website, I have no idea how to go about this.

Anyone know?

Caz3121

seems to be some instruction on this site
http://www.suffolknut.org.uk/membersh.htm

ILW

Is this only teachers?
When I asked HMRC they said that union membership was not counted as professional membership fees.

antonic

You USED to be able claim tax relief on your subscriptions to The General Teaching Council until it was abolished on 31st March 2012 and replaced with The Teaching Agency

From the HMRC website : http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/list3/list3.htm

The Teaching Agency DOESNT appear (as the list is from 2011) BUT the GTC does.

I would suggest YOU write to HMRC asking for a refund of the tax relief due on your subscriptions (20% of the ACTUAL cost) and make them aware of the above.

I would NOT recommend using any company "suggested" by your Union for two reasons
1) Why pay anyone a fee to do something you caan do yourself and
2) Your Union usually "suggest" using them as the Union get a reward for you using them.

Hope this helps.

BobQ

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

I have been told that I can reclaim tax on my union subscription but after a quick look at the HMRC website, I have no idea how to go about this.

Anyone know?

The default position is that Union Membership does not qualify for tax relief but you can claim for membership of Professional Bodies connected with your employment.There is a designated list of such bodies on the HMRC website so to get tax relief it has to be on it. However they only update the list every couple of years.

According to the NUT website, the NUT has got agreement (quite recently) for 66% of your NUT subscriptions to be tex deductable.

Its quite easy. You just send a copy of your NUT subscription receipt to your tax office and state that you have been told that you can now claim tax relief on some of it. They will just change your tax code slightly so that you pay less tax in the rest of the year. If it can be backdated to previous years you will need evidence of the subscriptions made in the previous tax years. The NUT should be able to advise you about the matter and how many years.

I think you are quite lucky to get this. Many people belong to Unions and have no right to tax relief !

Incidentally if a teacher is also a member of a professional body on the list like the Institute of Physics, that subscription (in full) is tax deductible too.

hieveryone

You can write to them or phone them.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/how-to-get.htm#2

BobQ

antonic wrote: »

I would suggest YOU write to HMRC asking for a refund of the tax relief due on your subscriptions (20% of the ACTUAL cost) and make them aware of the above.

I would NOT recommend using any company "suggested" by your Union for two reasons
1) Why pay anyone a fee to do something you caan do yourself and
2) Your Union usually "suggest" using them as the Union get a reward for you using them.

Hope this helps.

I would agree with the above (1) but question whether you have evidence that (2) is the case.

local.teachers.org.uk/templates/asset-relay.cfm?frmAssetFileID=6557

local.teachers.org.uk/templates/asset-relay.cfm?frmAssetFileID=6557

(may need to paste the above into your browser)

The above does not refer you to any third party to make a claim.

I also note you can claim tax relief on the cost of a CRB check.

lulu650

I don't entirely understand some of the answers. Unions are professional bodies, although I'm not clear if they are all on the list from the tax office.

I joined ATL 12 years ago and claimed for tax relief immediately as I was told to by other teachers. The list is here;

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/list3/list3.pdf

ATL are confusingly under T for Teachers and Lecturers. I also notice UCU are under T for their old name

Brownie points to anyone finding GMB. I can see Unison....

thegirlintheattic

Thanks all. My union are not telling me to use the services of anyone, just get in touch with the tax office. Which I will do in the week.

lulu650

I just wrote to my local tax office with;
Name of Professional Association
Membership No. and date of joining
Fees per year

They used to ask most years, via letter, if I was still a member of the organisations. While I was a teacher I was a member of three including my union.