Tax Rebate for washing towels

Charityworker

Hello. My husband has just started a new cleaning job. As part of the job description he has to bring the towels home twice a week and wash them and get them dry by the next morning. I was just wondering if there is a tax rebate to have for that like if you washed your uniform at home? Thanks.

ditzyat50

I had an office job whereas I took tea towels home Friday and washed them and took them back on Monday. In return the company paid me 15 mins of my hourly rate on my time sheet. But yes I think there is some sort of allowance. I now work in a supermarket and we have a uniform. There are forms in the staff canteen to claim for washing uniform to HMRC but I don't think it's much. I am working later and will check it out and come back to you.

paddedjohn

The company he works for should be paying the bill for cleaning the towels.

Charityworker

ditzyat50 wrote: »

I had an office job whereas I took tea towels home Friday and washed them and took them back on Monday. In return the company paid me 15 mins of my hourly rate on my time sheet. But yes I think there is some sort of allowance. I now work in a supermarket and we have a uniform. There are forms in the staff canteen to claim for washing uniform to HMRC but I don't think it's much. I am working later and will check it out and come back to you.

Thankyou very much, that is much appreciated.

Charityworker

paddedjohn wrote: »

The company he works for should be paying the bill for cleaning the towels.

Well I agree but after finding a full time permanent job after 4 years of doing casual "we will call you if we need you" type work I don't think he felt like quibbling over 5 towels that need washing. I think he was just gratefull to find work.

paddedjohn

How much is it costing you to wash 5 towels?

Charityworker

paddedjohn wrote: »

How much is it costing you to wash 5 towels?

About the same as it costs someone to wash and dry a uniform I would have thought.

paddedjohn

If he does get the tax deduction it's an allowance of about £60 so is only worth £12 per year.

McKneff

I can only repeat what pd has said, but the company could turn round and just say that it is in his contract and therefore he is already being paid to do it.

Cant see the HMRC being involved at all.

tyllwyd

There is a thread on the uniform tax rebate here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/27967

It would seem logical that the same would apply to these towels but I'm not sure if HMRC would agree - the safest might be to phone them up and ask. Are other employees in the company also expected to do this - what do they do?I

edited to say
... thinking about it a bit more, I'm not so sure it is the same as uniform. I take it these aren't towels for his personal use? If not, it surely should be a business expense, and the company really should be paying for a professional laundry service or reimbursing him for the cost of laundry. Still, can't hurt to ask HMRC the question.

ditzyat50

When I checked at work there were no forms about uniform left in the works canteen and no one in personnel. However I have tried to google for information but it could be that towels are a bit of a grey area and it is just washing uniform that you can claim a rebate. Sorry I could not help more but if I find out anything else I will certainly let you know.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/relief-tools.htm