Pizza Express - uniform / lower tax code?

robert_harper_2000

My brothers girlfriend is working at Pizza Express her uniform is just black shirt and black trousers - Would she be entitled to that washing your uniform at home thingy that was on here a while back?

Also her tax code was reduced to 422 due to the fact she will be getting cash tips ... does this seem accurate? and it ends in WK1 - should she get this removed or sort it out in April with her P60?


Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeers!

fengirl_2

She can certainly claim for the laundering of her uniform. There is a fixed rate expense allowance for people working in catering - when I was a girl it was £25pa - it may have increased, so check with HMRC. It would be far less hassle to go for this fixed deduction than to try and show how much it would cost to stick a top and trousers in the machine.
As for the tips, she should keep a record of how much she receives every day (keep a notebook). At the end of the year, she can write to HMRC and tell them how much her tips were and they can make any adjustment to her tax - up or down.
She is on the week 1 basis as her code has been reduced which has created a small underpayment due to the tips being included in her code. Leave it as it is or else she will have a large tax deduction in her next weeks wages.

robert_harper_2000

So she should write in saying I wear a uniform and would like a fixed deduction (no template have you?) then she should write her tips down for HMRC in April. But don't touch the WK1 code?

Correct?

dzug

Actually the week 1 code will mean she is paying MORE tax than if it wasn't there - assuming the number that goes with it remains the same.

If the tax code is 422L she has £4229 in allowances for the current tax year.

If it is week 1 she has (approx) £81 a week allowances - but only for the weeks she actually works. Each week is treated separately - if she earns less than £81 the balance is not carried forward. So if she has only just started work that is for say only 6 months, or £2115 in total for the year.

So in most circumstances the WK1 is best removed. However if the 422L WK1 replaced a 522L with no WK1 (ie they have reduced her allowances mid-year) then it's maybe best to leave things alone.

fengirl_2

She can ask to be taken off the week 1 code, but as I said, she will pay extra tax in the week it is operated and she might find it hard to budget.
She just writes a letter to HMRC asking for the standard expense allowance for the catering industry. (When I was a girl, we would have checked automatically that someone had the right fixed rate expense when they changed jobs, but I guess they don't have time nowadays.)

robert_harper_2000

Excellent, I'll write up a letter for her. Literally just saying that.

Cheers, I'll leave the WK1 then and rebate in April. Cheers

fengirl_2

There won't necessarily be a refund in April! It all depends on the amount of her tips in the year ending 5 April 2008.

robert_harper_2000

You haven't got your old letter as a template do you? My brothers gf Mum wants one too! Getting orders now lol

fengirl_2

She just needs to say: 'As an employee of Pizza Hut, I believe I am entitled to the basic expense allowance for an employee in the catering industry. Please issue a new code number taking this into account.'

robert_harper_2000

That simple! If she says I started in 2006 etc I guess they rebate any due?

robert_harper_2000

EIM32485 - Other expenses: clothing: the cost of upkeep and replacement of uniform and protective clothing: laundry costs.

So for my staff, I've just bought new polo shirts with our company logo and name sewn in. I'll could get them to type up letters with the above and they should get an allowance of £45 ??