Millions of uniformed workers including nurses and police officers could claim tax relief from HMRC for washing and maintaining their work clothes
Uniformed workers could be sitting on as much as £142 million in unclaimed tax relief from this year alone – simply for washing their clothes. HMRC provides those who must wash, maintain, or repair uniforms or tools needed for their jobs with tax relief, either as a flat-rate expense or the actual cost if they can produce receipts.
A uniform is defined as a set of clothing that identifies you as having a particular job, for example nurse, or police officer. You may also be eligible to claim for specialist clothing you require for work, even if it does not identify you as having a specific occupation, for example overalls or safety boots.
The standard flat-rate expense allowance for uniform maintenance is £60, meaning a basic rate taxpayer applying for this would receive £12 tax relief annually. If the estimated 12 million UK workers who wear a uniform all claimed this sum, it would total up to £142m.
Some professionals can request considerably more than this, and the amounts can also be backdated for four additional years. It covers any money spent on clothing or tools, from a regular wash to getting it professionally cleaned, to repairing or replacing items.
Research commissioned by Utilita, involving 1,000 workers who don a recognisable uniform or protective clothing for their job as part of its award-winning High5 campaign, discovered that 40% are still oblivious to this scheme. Many were unaware they qualified and others were uncertain about how to make a claim.
A spokesperson for Utilita said: “Even the smallest ways to help save you money on the necessities you need to do your job can make a big difference in the long run.”
Standard workplace requirements for uniforms included always being free from stains or marks, ironed and without creases, and kept in like-new condition.
This meant 48% needed to replace their clothing or equipment at least several times during a 12-month period. They also need to mend it twice in the same timeframe, meanwhile, 27% are required by their employers to wash their uniform after every single use.
This results in average costs of £81 per year on general upkeep, as the typical uniformed worker will spend £32 per year cleaning it, £18 making essential repairs, and £31 on having to replace it entirely.
To help cut additional costs, Utilita suggests washing laundry at 30 degrees rather than hotter, and ensuring your washing machine is completely loaded before starting a cycle – something 34% of uniformed workers already do.
“Simple tips when using your washing machine, like using a lower heat and always making sure it’s fully loaded, can help both the planet and your wallet,” added the Utilita spokesperson.
“And while you’re watching your clothes swirl around, also remember that the money you’ve spent cleaning them can be put right back in your pocket at the end of the financial year.”
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