Working From Home Tax Relief

Saria

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

What exactly did you do to apply? 

Was it the micro service MSE refer to?

What date did you claim from?

I went through the HMRC website ( https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/digital-forms/form/tax-relief-for-expenses-of-employment/draft/guide?_ga=2.258677898.1039698835.1607332032-508268225.1604337272 ).
First I claimed expenses for the previous tax years wher I had worked from home. I received a message a few days later to say that my tax code had been changed and a week later I received a cheque in the post as well. 

Then a week after that I read the article on MSE to say anyone can apply for this year. I followed the same steps through the HMRC website to claim for the current tax year (6 April 2020). The claim was being handled for a lot longer this time, then eventually I received the form in the post.

unholyangel

Saria said:

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

What exactly did you do to apply? 

Was it the micro service MSE refer to?

What date did you claim from?

I went through the HMRC website ( https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/digital-forms/form/tax-relief-for-expenses-of-employment/draft/guide?_ga=2.258677898.1039698835.1607332032-508268225.1604337272 ).
First I claimed expenses for the previous tax years wher I had worked from home. I received a message a few days later to say that my tax code had been changed and a week later I received a cheque in the post as well. 

Then a week after that I read the article on MSE to say anyone can apply for this year. I followed the same steps through the HMRC website to claim for the current tax year (6 April 2020). The claim was being handled for a lot longer this time, then eventually I received the form in the post.

What's your current tax code? 

Normally if you claim relief for the current year (which you must have if your code was changed) it would carry forward until you notify them otherwise. 

But I don't believe MSE said anyone can apply this year. I believe they said if you're required to work from home. Which is possibly why they're asking for your contract 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

First I claimed expenses for the previous tax years wher I had worked from home. I received a message a few days later to say that my tax code had been changed and a week later I received a cheque in the post as well. 

Then a week after that I read the article on MSE to say anyone can apply for this year. I followed the same steps through the HMRC website to claim for the current tax year (6 April 2020). The claim was being handled for a lot longer this time, then eventually I received the form in the post.

Those two paragraphs don't make sense.

If you had only applied for previous years and had received a refund by cheque why would your tax code have changed?

I suspect you have thoroughly confused HMRC by making two claims for the same thing.

I think the best way forward is to phone or go on webchat and clarify what you have done and exactly what is required form wise.

penners324

The HMRC website for this is asking if you've only worked from home since 23rd March due to Covid. Saria you work from home anyway so shouldn't have used that site, hence HMRC's request for additional information 

Saria

unholyangel said:

What's your current tax code? 

Normally if you claim relief for the current year (which you must have if your code was changed) it would carry forward until you notify them otherwise. 

But I don't believe MSE said anyone can apply this year. I believe they said if you're required to work from home. Which is possibly why they're asking for your contract 

My tax code was changed from 1250L to 1271L. This tax code change was made on October 19 (after I applied for tax relief for previous years). I applied for the current tax year on October 22, so after the tax code change. They didn't ask for any proof when I applied for the previous few years, that was approved in a matter of days actually. 

 Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

First I claimed expenses for the previous tax years wher I had worked from home. I received a message a few days later to say that my tax code had been changed and a week later I received a cheque in the post as well. 

Then a week after that I read the article on MSE to say anyone can apply for this year. I followed the same steps through the HMRC website to claim for the current tax year (6 April 2020). The claim was being handled for a lot longer this time, then eventually I received the form in the post.

Those two paragraphs don't make sense.

If you had only applied for previous years and had received a refund by cheque why would your tax code have changed?

I suspect you have thoroughly confused HMRC by making two claims for the same thing.

I think the best way forward is to phone or go on webchat and clarify what you have done and exactly what is required form wise.

I have no idea why my tax code changed to be honest. I hadn't applied for this year yet when I made my first claim, as I thought you could only do that after the tax year has finished. I only applied for this year after because I saw it mentioned on MSE and other websites. HMRC even sent me the new tax calculation documents and they apply from 6 April 2016 to 5 april 2020, nothing for this year. 
I'd love to speak to someone on webchat, but their website is so difficult to navigate to try and find the right contact details! 

penners324 said:

The HMRC website for this is asking if you've only worked from home since 23rd March due to Covid. Saria you work from home anyway so shouldn't have used that site, hence HMRC's request for additional information 

I didn't use the Covid related website, I used their general website and typed in Work from Home and went through the forms. It even asks if you're working from home due to Covid and I selected "No", so I don't think I did anything wrong there?