Like many, I've been working from home since the start of the pandemic, and I'm saving money as I no longer have commuting costs. One of my colleagues told me about Martin's blog on claiming a year's worth of tax relief if you're working from home, but they said they won't be claiming it as they're saving money by working from home. I'm entitled to claim the tax relief, but should I given all the taxpayers' money being used to support people?
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Money Moral Dilemma: Should I claim working-from-home tax relief?

MSE_Kelvin
Posts: 375 MSE Staff

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Comments
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This is the most ridiculous one yet
Yes of course you claim it! If you are having pangs of social conscience, then go volunteer at a vaccination centre or donate to a food bank. Better than leaving it to Boris and Rishi to manage...
Can we please close this thread now?
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As a money saving site, why is this even a discussion or moral dilemma?0
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Take it but then send me the cash you save if you have that much to spare.0
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This isn't some kind of government scheme to help the needy... it's a small tax relief available to any & all who've worked from home. Do you imagine MPs and their business cronies have any scruples about taking tax breaks? No. And for once, they are in the right - because everyone's default position should be to pay the minimum amount of tax they are required to pay. If you really feel you haven't deserved the extra couple of quid per work, donate it to a foodbank or an NHS partner charity, where it will surely be put to better use than it would be in the government coffers.1
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The amount you get is quite insignificant. Not really sure it’s worth the hassle to claim unless you do genuinely need the money.0
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Many assume you get physical money in your bank, you don’t it’s tax relief so your tax code changes. It barely feels like a benefit at all0
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Yes, it's a small amount. But as you go through the application it makes it clear that this is intended to compensate the claimant for additional expenditure incurred due to having to work from home. That's why I decided not to claim.
You may of course disagree and think I'm being naïve. I happen to think though the world would be a better place if everyone complied with the spirit, or intention, of the laws that govern us rather than looking for how we can exploit loopholes for our personal benefit.
Ok, sermon over. Could I hand on heart say I would have done the same if the amount had been far greater? I'd only know for certain if I actually found myself in that situation.7 -
If you are entitled to it and have a cluded up Employer then why not try for it. I'm a creature of habit I've a tv over 10+ years still does the job, I've kitchen goods older then when I moved in - I only spent 3 months away from a physical work place before being demanded back in 2020, from home working whether the commute was twice as long because no one else really used the roads so ideal to start working on them because the nation were at home, right!? , snow; ice; driven it all in times to reach a destination beyond whatever room in my home; people who are meant to be more experienced in showing you how to do a job but never have time, the job you don't know you are being interviewed for when you told collections is being automated as you sit down to interview which turns out just a fabrication, having friends who have managed to be careful not to rub in the home working luxury afforded to them, last year 2 weeks holiday whilst in work (though in the end wasn't going to decline compensation which turned out guilt money in part so I ended up with a clear conscience but I wouldn't know it if it wasn't for the fact it jumped out on me) - never been on furlough but I have wished for it at times - I work a job where people are on hard time can expect a better household item if available to them so yes no matter who you are in the world and whether you should take it on the chin why should you, if entitled yes apply and accept.0
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Perhaps Martin should be asked for his view.0
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I am entitled to claim this and if I was in financial strife I’d claim it without a second thought but I’m very comfortable and am already £50 better off a week as I’m not commuting. Each to their own but I don’t think that people in my position should claim it.
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