Best way to claim a tax refund – HMRC

What can you claim and how much are you missing out on?

Would you like some good news? Nurses and other healthcare professionals can claim tax relief on their work-related expenses. And did you know that the quickest, simplest and most financially rewarding way to make a claim is via HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) online portal on GOV.UK?

The rising cost of living means many families and households are feeling the pinch. Every penny counts and it’s never been more important for workers to claim all the money that they’re entitled to.

What you can claim for

Employees may be able to get tax relief on:

• Uniforms and work clothing
• Buying equipment
• Professional fees and subscriptions
• Using their own vehicles for work travel (this doesn’t mean your journey from home to work)
• Working from home

How to claim

Some people are reluctant to claim tax relief for themselves because they think it’s time consuming, challenging or difficult, but in fact it’s quick and easy to do.

The best way to claim is to apply to HMRC directly for your own tax relief.

You can check your eligibility online at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-income-tax-relief-for-your-employment-expenses-p87 and find out more useful information about claiming tax relief on work-related expenses on GOV.UK. Making this check will only take you about five minutes.

If you can make a claim and already have access to your Government Gateway account, you can go straight ahead and make the claim there. If you don’t already have an account, it is straightforward to set one up.

Once you’ve submitted the claim, HMRC will contact you if they need written confirmation of the payments you’ve made, or if there’s anything else they need to check.

Isn’t it easier to use a company instead of doing it myself?

Healthcare work can involve long, stressful hours. Busy people, who are short on free time, may find themselves drawn to the many advertisements often seen online and on social media, offering a quick and easy rebate from HMRC, all handled by a third-party company to save you the trouble. These companies are known as repayment agents.

The ease of leaving everything to someone else can be very appealing, but it’s vital that you look into the company carefully and are fully aware of the specific terms and conditions involved.

Most importantly, there is always a fee involved in using an agent. Depending on the company, these can be up to 50% of the refund and could also include an administration charge. This can take a significant chunk out of any money you eventually receive.

The information you give these companies to apply for your refund is almost always the same you will give HMRC if you apply yourself. We would always recommend taking the time to look into applying yourself before committing to a repayment agent, as you then get to keep all of the money you claim.

The government is aware that some have taxpayers faced issues or felt misled when using agents that specialise in claiming tax refunds from HMRC. HMRC has received complaints about a few companies relating to matters such as how transparent they are over their fees and how the relationship between the customer and the agent works.

Things to remember when claiming tax relief

1. Check GOV.UK to see if you are eligible to claim tax relief on work-related expenses.

2. When you are ready to make a claim, the quickest and easiest way to do so is directly with HMRC.

3. If you do choose to use a repayment agent to make a claim – do your research and check the terms of the service and what fees you will be charged. Don’t be caught out.

Help for households

It’s not just work-related expenses that people are missing out on. The government is offering help for households as a result of the increased cost of living pressures. Check https://costoflivingsupport.campaign.gov.uk/ to find out what cost-of-living support you could be eligible for.