How To Claim Tax On Workwear

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How To Claim Tax On Workwear

25 February 2021

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As a Living Wage employer and always wanting to get behind the workforce of this country, we here at Granite Workwear always want to make sure you’re getting enough money for the work you do, whilst wearing the best, high-quality clothing for your jobs.

In some cases, you will be responsible for buying your own work uniform rather than being given it when you start.

There are pros and cons to this. Yes, you can get the clothes you want and they fit you perfectly. But at the same time, it’s money out of your own pocket which you’re responsible to buy before starting the job.

That’s why the Government introduced a uniform tax refund. Whereby you can reclaim £100s of tax for up to five years of expenses.

In this article, we’ll look at the uniform tax and what you need to do to be compensated.

Are You Eligible?

The first thing you want to do is to make sure you’re eligible before proceeding.

The best way to do that is first, is to ask yourself some key questions:

  • Do you purchase your own work uniform?

  • How long have you been buying your own work uniform?

  • Does your employer require you to wear it while working?

If you’ve answered yes to those questions above, you are more than likely eligible for the uniform tax refund. So it’s worth reading on to see how much you could get and how to apply!

How Much Could You Get?

Right now, the flat-rate expense allowance for uniform maintenance is £60. So you’ll get back the amount of tax you would otherwise have paid on that £60.

However, most people can and have claimed up to 5 years if you’ve been wearing and buying the uniform within that timeframe.

If that’s the case and depending on which industry you work in, you could be entitled to a lot more!

To give you a quick overview of some industries that pay tax back on uniforms:

  • Agriculture £100

  • Building and construction up to £140

  • Forestry £100

  • Healthcare staff up to £185

  • Police forces up to £140

Here is a link to the full list of occupations to check if you’re eligible and to see how much you could reclaim.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/job-expenses-for-uniforms-work-clothing-and-tools

How Do I Apply?

Simply go online here and fill out the P87 form. Print it out and send it to Pay As You Earn, HM Revenue & Customs, BX9 1AS. Write 'Repayment Claim' on the envelope to speed things up. If applying by post, you'll need to fill in one form for each year you're claiming for.

Or call 0300 200 3310 HM Revenue & Customs for more information or if you need a form in a different format.