Work from Home Employed - what can I claim?

pleaseurself

Hi there,

I am employed on a PAYE basis. I work from home and therefore use my own heating, lighting, water etc. If I was in the office, I wouldn't need to heat my home during the day etc etc.

Can I claim any tax relief on this expense? My employer hasn't increased my salary to account for these expenses.

If I can, how much can I claim?

Thank you

PlutoinCapricorn

Does your contract of employment state that your home address is the work address? If you just have permission to work at home sometimes, you are not entitled to anything.

pleaseurself

Hi there, my contract says:

"Your normal place of work will be your home address and the Company's offices.......Typically you will be required to work in the office on 4 days per month"

The reality is that I work 4 days in the office per month and 10 days from home each month (I work part-time)

Thanks

Pennywise

If your employer requires you to work from home, you can claim £4 per week against your taxable income:-

https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

NB you don't claim £4 tax refund, you claim tax relief on £4, so if you pay tax at 20% basic rate, you claim 80p per week off the tax deducted from your wages. If you earn too little to pay tax, then there's nothing to claim as it's a tax-reducer.

TheCyclingProgrammer

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

If you just have permission to work at home sometimes, you are not entitled to anything.

Almost - no tax relief is available against existing income if working from home voluntarily, but an employer may still contribute up to £4/week towards use of home costs without any further tax being due.

If OP has to work from home, then they can claim £4/week tax relief even if their employer makes no contribution, as Pennywise pointed out.