Wear a Uniform? You Might Be Able to Claim a Tax Rebate!

Thousands of people across the UK have to wear a uniform to work. From shop workers to military personnel, the police to carers, uniforms are everywhere and help us to recognise that workers belong to a particular profession, company or role. While there are many advantages to wearing a uniform, for some workers having to keep it clean and tidy can become a burden – and a lot of extra expense. Did you know, however, that you can claim a tax rebate for washing uniform?

To claim a uniform tax rebate, you must meet certain criteria. The uniform must show that you belong to a certain job (your standard clothes do not usually apply) and you must be required to wear it to carry out your job. You must also be responsible for washing, repairing and/or replacing it yourself – if your employer provides a free laundry service, for example, you would not be able to claim. As you are only claiming a tax rebate, you must also be or have been a UK income tax payer in the year that you are claiming for.

So how much can you claim? Well, the amount of tax rebate for washing uniform actually depends on your industry, with the standard rate allowance being £60 for 2012-13. What you actually receive in your pocket, however, is actually the tax you have paid on that £60, which equates to £12 for basic rate taxpayers (20%). Higher rate tax payers taxed at 40% would receive double – £24 of uniform tax rebate.

You can even usually claim back for the past four years too – so if your current role doesn’t require you to wear a uniform, but you have held one recently that does, you can still claim. Consulting with a professional tax agent will give you the best advice of what you can and can’t claim, and how much you are likely to receive.