Reclaiming Professional Fees?

Mrsmarvin

Hi I would appreciate some help. I recently had a conversation with a colleague who advised that it is possible to claim back professional fees, union subscription and professional journal subscription (I am a nurse so pay registration fees to the Nursing Midwifery Council, plus subscriptions to Royal College of Nursing and Nursing Times).
This is all new to me, firstly is this advice correct? Secondly how do you go about claiming?
I have searched the site but I haven't found anything to help.
Thanks in advance

Browntoa

https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/professional-fees-and-subscriptions


7. Professional fees and subscriptions

You can reclaim tax on fees or subscriptions you pay to some approved professional organisations - but only if you must have membership to do your job or it’s helpful for your work.
You can’t claim tax back on fees or subscriptions you’ve paid to professional organisations not approved by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), or for:

• life membership subscriptions
• fees or subscriptions you haven’t paid for yourself, ie your employer has paid for them

Your organisation can tell you how much tax you’re allowed to claim back.

emg

I recently claimed back several years worth on HCPC and another professional subscription just by calling the general HMRC helpline number. My union is not one that can be claimed for though - check the list in the link above. Apparently as long as the total claim is less than £2000 you can do it over the phone. I just needed my national insurance number and the amounts I had paid to the organisations each year and it was all really quick and easy. A couple of weeks later I received the cheques back for them. The amounts have now been added to my tax code going forward so i will just have a little less PAYE taken.

Mrsmarvin

Thanks that's great. Sounds like my colleague was right! She also said that there is a template for a letter to send off.

Is there a letter template available that anyone has used?? Would prefer to send a letter rather than phone them as it is hard to get through on the phone.

Browntoa

https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/how-to-claim


2. How to claim

The way you claim tax relief on expenses depends on the amount you are claiming for.
Claims up to £2,500

You must claim using a Self Assessment tax return if you already fill one in.
If you don’t already fill in a Self Assessment tax return and your allowable expenses are under £2,500 for the tax year, fill in form P87.
If you’ve made a successful claim in a previous tax year and your expenses are less than £1,000 (or £2,500 for professional fees and subscriptions), you may be able to make your claim by phone.