Working from home - can't work out how to fill in the form correctly!

Gorsewaygirl

I have been working from home for the last 20 years, I've never claimed any tax relief but I saw recently that I could. My boss has never paid any expenses to me. I work 20 hours a week from home. When I get to the part of the form where it asks you to calculate your working from home expenses I don't know how to. It gives you no guidance of how to work it out. Can anyone help me work out the percentages of my costs that would qualify for relief please?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Have you considered just claiming using the simple method of £X per week?

I presume you are aware that you can only claim back to 2017:18?

And have checked you are actually eligible to claim.

lisyloo

We’re you forced to work from home or do you choose to ?
I.e. are you eligible?
if it’s been 20 years it doesn’t sound like you were forced to due to covid 19.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

if you are eligible it might be far easier to claim the £4/£6 per week that will be accepted without question, rather than trying to evidence bills from the last few years.
as already stated there is a time limit - more like 4 years not 20.

Gorsewaygirl

Thanks for your replies. I started to work from home after returning from maternity leave 20 years ago, I suggested I should work from home and my boss agreed this would be a good idea as I would be able to work unsociable hours outside of normal office hours for overseas clients and so on. He has actively facilitated this by providing me with the equipment I need to work from home. I think I qualify because of this. I had no idea I might be able to claim tax relief which is why I am asking this question and accept that I will only be able to claim for the last few years.

@lisyloo The £4/£6 per week is helpful - which years do the different amounts apply to?

[Deleted User]

The link above will guide you through the claim. £6 from April 2020. 

 https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

Jeremy535897

Remember that it must be a condition of your employment that you have to work from home, rather than you simply choosing to work from home.

GrumpyDil

Jeremy535897 said:

Remember that it must be a condition of your employment that you have to work from home, rather than you simply choosing to work from home.

This as OP says "I suggested I should work from home" which to me makes it sound like she cannot claim. 

sheramber

Is it in your contract that you work from home?

https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

You may be able to claim tax relief for additional household costs if you have to work at home on a regular basis, either for all or part of the week. This includes if you have to work from home because of coronavirus (COVID-19).

You cannot claim tax relief if you choose to work from home.

Also, you do not get the amount  claimed, You get tax relief. So if you are liable  at 20%, then you get relief of 20% of the amount.

Your employer can pay you the basic amount ( £4 or £6 ) i tax free.

lisyloo

Gorsewaygirl said:

Thanks for your replies. I started to work from home after returning from maternity leave 20 years ago, I suggested I should work from home and my boss agreed this would be a good idea as I would be able to work unsociable hours outside of normal office hours for overseas clients and so on. He has actively facilitated this by providing me with the equipment I need to work from home. I think I qualify because of this. I had no idea I might be able to claim tax relief which is why I am asking this question and accept that I will only be able to claim for the last few years.

@lisyloo The £4/£6 per week is helpful - which years do the different amounts apply to?

I agree with GrumpyDil that you don’t qualify. From what you said, you chose to and then your employer agreed, this is not the same as having to.
i am not a tax specialist, so I would suggest you speak to HMRC and get their advice.
contrary to popular assumption they do not try to get people to pay tax they don’t have to so it would be safer for you to get their opinion on whether you qualify.