Martin Lewis: Working from home due to coronavirus, even for a day? Claim TWO years' worth of tax re

glider3560

PAR34 said:

Its there any tax relief for people who did not work from home? Tax relief for people working from home is ridiculous. Tax relief should be given to us that worked on the front line through out and not those who was sat at home in the safety of their own homes. And no, I am not saying this to get the NHS yet more praise, I am saying it for all key worker's. It's these who supported to keep people out of hospital / delivering food supplies etc while putting themselves at risk. Its these people who have been forgotten about from day one. Im sure our government appreciates what these workers have done but it would be nice for them to show it occasionally.

No, since you won't have incurred any expenses above those you would normally have incurred (pre-COVID).  If you have incurred additional expenses, your employer should be expected to cover them.

littlemisssensible

Still no help for the lowest paid eg apprentices who don’t earn enough to pay tax & who’s employers are too tight to contribute anything. Doesn’t seem fair!!

Nevster77

HELP... I have not managed to find an answer for this one Q anywhere... yet...
As a landlord (for one property), I already complete a Self Assessment each year... So when I go to this microsite it asks "Do you complete Self Assessment returns?" then when I answer YES, it says "You can only claim these expenses using Self Assessment".

SO... does this mean I have to wait until after April 2021 (when I'd normally do my online SA for FY2020) - to claim these WFH expenses for this current tax year???

glider3560

littlemisssensible said:

Still no help for the lowest paid eg apprentices who don’t earn enough to pay tax & who’s employers are too tight to contribute anything. Doesn’t seem fair!!

It's harsh, but if you're not paying any tax, then you won't be able to claim tax relief.

glider3560

Nevster77 said:

HELP... I have not managed to find an answer for this one Q anywhere... yet...
As a landlord (for one property), I already complete a Self Assessment each year... So when I go to this microsite it asks "Do you complete Self Assessment returns?" then when I answer YES, it says "You can only claim these expenses using Self Assessment".

SO... does this mean I have to wait until after April 2021 (when I'd normally do my online SA for FY2020) - to claim these WFH expenses for this current tax year???

Assuming you are also PAYE, you can log into your Personal Tax Account and go into the PAYE section.  You can add a "company benefit" which will result in a change to your tax code.

stevecrane

Hi, quote above states; 

"To process these claims HMRC in October 2020 set up a new dedicated working from home microservice that will automatically apply the whole 2020/21 tax year’s relief via your tax code – making claiming the whole amount very easy. Anyone making a claim for this tax year, who hasn’t already put in a claim, can use it."  Followed the link and it states that this need to be applied via Self Assessment, with a 2019/2020 return completed, Will everyone need to wait until after April 2021 to apply for tax relief? Thanks

johnmcc7

Can I claim this rebate if during this tax year I’ve 
1. been employed 
2. then left employment 
3. started  a new job working from home in September 
thank you

Leaskovski

I remember reading a Telegraph article a while back on this...
"The-tax-trap-thats-catching-home-workers"
Specifically they mentioned about...

“If you want to avoid any challenges from HMRC, or don’t wish to spend your time calculating the necessary apportionments, individuals can claim a flat rate of £4 per week instead.”
But there’s a catch – and it could cost you dearly.
If you designate a room in your home purely as office space, with no personal uses, a portion of your home could become liable for capital gains tax (CGT) when it is sold.
This overrides the Private Residence Relief, which makes your main home completely exempt from CGT.

How does this hook in with this application?  Are the HMRC trying to compose a DB of home works so they can check up on people not paying CGT when they sell their property?

frowner

Monkeymonster_3 said:

So what if you are partially reimbursed by your employer?
I homework irrespective of Covid restrictions. My employer pays two components:
£7 per month (£1.62 per week) towards broadband costs, which is taxable. 
£11 per month (£2.54 per week) towards other home working expenses, which is non-taxable.
Combined, this is £4.16 per week.

IF I decide to claim, is it based on the difference between £6 per week and both components at £4.16? 

Or,
Is it based on the difference between £6 per week and just the non-taxable £2.54?
For some reason I’m going round in circles and confusing myself with this!!

Hi, just wondering if you found an answer to this please. I’m in a similar position. I’m paid £20 per
month for broadband.

glider3560

Leaskovski said:

I remember reading a Telegraph article a while back on this...
"The-tax-trap-thats-catching-home-workers"
Specifically they mentioned about...

“If you want to avoid any challenges from HMRC, or don’t wish to spend your time calculating the necessary apportionments, individuals can claim a flat rate of £4 per week instead.”
But there’s a catch – and it could cost you dearly.
If you designate a room in your home purely as office space, with no personal uses, a portion of your home could become liable for capital gains tax (CGT) when it is sold.
This overrides the Private Residence Relief, which makes your main home completely exempt from CGT.

How does this hook in with this application?  Are the HMRC trying to compose a DB of home works so they can check up on people not paying CGT when they sell their property?

You don't need a separate office space to claim the income tax allowance.  CGT only becomes payable if the room is solely used as an office.  A bedroom that is used as an office AND a bedroom isn't liable.