Self Assesment HELP - Working from home allowance

TomTom3009

Hi everyone, hopefully someone can help...

I have to complete self assessment tax returns each year due to claiming child benefit and earning slightly over the threshold. I have now stopped the child benefit but need to complete the tax return still for 2021-22 tax year. 

I read that I can claim tax relief for the past year due to the government and my employer requiring me to work from home for part of the year because of COVID. 

The MSE site explains how to use the microsite perfectly but when talking about the self assessment it just says: "Online returns: Fill in the box titled 'Other expenses and capital allowances' in the employment section."

I have found this section and it just asks for an amount in £, my question is, what do I put in here?? 

Apparently it's £6 a week in tax relief so do I put £312 in there? (£6 x 52 weeks = £312). Or do I put the tax saving amount in there of a pound or two pound or whatever it is, but I don't know what that would be? 

I'm questioning it as I put the £312 in and it seems to have taken £312 off my tax bill I owe... Is that right?? 

On the MSE site it says: 

- £1.20 a week for a basic 20% rate taxpayer (£62.40 a year)
- £2.40 a week for a higher 40% rate taxpayer (£124.80 a year)
- £2.70 a week for a top 45% rate taxpayer (£140.40 a year)

So I assume I would save £124.80 as a 40% tax payer, not £312 ??? But I have no idea... 

Please help.

Thank you very much everyone! 

Tom

Dazed_and_C0nfused

You enter expenses of £312.  Assuming it is for 2021:22 and you are eligible due to WFH as a result of Covid-19.

TomTom3009

Hi,
Thanks for replying!
Yes it's for 2021-22. 
I believe I'm eligible as we were made to work from home for a number of weeks throughout the year, and the site says that even if it's for a day, you claim for the whole year?

biscan25

That's right, for 20/21 and 21/22 even a day worked from home due to C-19 qualifies you for the whole year's relief.

It's more strict now in 22/23.

TomTom3009

Perfect, I will enter £312 then. 

Thank you very much again for confirming! 

Have a great day!! 

pinkteapot

Just to add: yep! I put in £312 last year and got a tax refund of about £60. 

For this year, they then assumed I’d continue to have £312 expenses. So, given the tightening of rules, if you’re not eligible in this tax year then tell them your expenses this year are £0, otherwise your tax code will assume the expenses and you’ll end up underpaying tax. You don’t do this as part of the return (there isn’t a box for predicted expenses next year) - you can phone them after your self assessment has gone through and your tax code has updated, or can possibly do it online in the PAYE bit of the website.