Work from Home - no tax relief 2024/25?

SuzeQStan

Long story short - my work had to give up offices premises during pandemic.

I have been claiming WFH tax relief yearly ever since 2020 but got an email from HMRC today that my tax code was changing and that I would be paying more tax 2024/25.

When I looked into it they have removed the WFH tax relief (am basic rate tax payer so this worked out to £60 a year / £5 a month for me)

I rang HMRC who said there could be changes afoot in regards to WFM tax relief.  Which is odd as their own website mentions that WFH tax relief is available for 2024/25. But it won’t let me apply for it.

advisor said to wait till April 6th as there may be an announcement about WFH tax relief (but they didn’t know what that might be) 

just wondered if anyone else had the same recently? Did have a quick look on forum but didn’t see anything - but knowing me I’ve search the wrong keywords.

Thanks for reading - sorry if this is an oft asked question.

p00hsticks

SuzeQStan said:

Long story short - my work had to give up offices premises during pandemic.

Did they therefore then change your contract of employment to say that your normal place of employment was now home rather than their office ? 

SuzeQStan

Not sure. But I’ve been successfully
claiming wfh tax relief since yearly.

Hoenir

What's your situation now? 

Who can claim tax relief

You can claim tax relief if you have to work from home, for example because:

• your job requires you to live far away from your office
• your employer does not have an office

Who cannot claim tax relief

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

• your employment contract lets you work from home some or all of the time
• you work from home because of coronavirus (COVID-19)
• your employer has an office, but you cannot go there sometimes because it’s full

SuzeQStan

As above we lost our physical premises office back in 2020.  The office no longer exists. Myself and all my colleagues work from home.

*my employer does not have an office

Hoenir

• your employment contract lets you work from home some or all of the time

Have new contracts been issued or revisions to existing

sheramber

SuzeQStan said:

As above we lost our physical premises office back in 2020.  The office no longer exists. Myself and all my colleagues work from home.

*my employer does not have an office

In that case you should have a new contract stating that you are required to work from home.

SuzeQStan

Please explain further - why do I have to have a contract that states I am required to work from home? 

And what do I do with it once I have a contract that states I am required to work from home? 

The company I work for no longer has a physical premises office as of 2020.  We have no option to work in an office. 

Hoenir

Well written employment contracts are explicit in where the employee may be expected to travel to in order to perform their role. . 

SuzeQStan

Nope sorry still not understanding what
you are inferring.

borris78

I had been claiming WFH tax relief but the rules have now changed so I'm no longer eligible for it. If you choose to WFH rather than attend the office then you can no longer claim it. If your employer designates you as a home worker or has no office then you can claim it.

Like yourself, I receive a coding notice change from HMRC last year and they said I've underpaid £72 tax. There was no explanation but I'm guessing this is due to the WFH allowance. That said, I do need to call them about this to check it's still correct since my self-assessment tax adjustments are paid in arrears and I think this was still a year when I was eligible. It is very difficult calling HMRC to check these things, and they should explain things more easily either in the letters or on their system.