tool allowance

123oleary

i'm a tradesman employed by a factory. my employer provides tools that a tradesman wouldn't be expected to have such as drills ,jigsaws etc and also holesaws , stanley blades and hacksaw blades and i'm expected to provide my own basic tools. can i claim a tax allowance for this and if so how do i claim it and how much would it be worth?

BoGoF

The amount of the expense would depend on your trade - what exactly is it you do ?

123oleary

i'm an electrician, i reckon i easily spend £100 a year replacing worn or lost tools

BoGoF

You have two choices - claim the actual cost of replacing these tools - however you may be expected to produce receipts for these

or

claim the agreed flat rate expense for your trade, which is £90 per annum up to 07/08 tax year and £120 from 08/09 tax year.

Remember you will get tax relief on these amounts at your rate of tax not the amount of the allowance. You can backdate your claim to 2002-03 tax year.

Just write to your tax office stating you want to claim a tool allowance for your trade.

newcastlebelle

out of interest, would my son be able to claim a tax allowance for the £250 he has just spent on tools for his apprenticeship? how about a tax allowance for the £150 he's spent on books for the course?
thank you in advance.

123oleary

i mentioned it to a couple of the lads at work and they thought that we used to be able to get a tax allowance but now the company claim it on our behalf on account of things we are supplied with. the only things they really supply us with is mandatory ppe, consumables such as blades and drill bits. power tools are provided but only on loan or on a couple of items between ten of us.is this likely to be correct, i realise i need to speak to my tax office but i would like some idea of whats right first so i dont get fobbed off

BoGoF

To be honest the lads at work are talking rubbish !

If you are regularly replacing hand tools etc that you need to do your job then you can claim tax relief.

amancalledoss1

hello Im a welder fabricator and spend regulary about £500 a year on tools such as welding masks drill bits drills spanners and tool boxes I am not self employed am I still entitled to claim a tool allowance ?