Did you know that your Flat Rate Expenses amount increased in 2014?
Most healthcare workers, working in both the private sector and NHS, are entitled to claim a Flat Rate Expense (FRE) for the cost of laundering uniform, shoes and tights. This applies to most healthcare workers who work in clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories and surgeries.
How much is it worth?
HMRC has identified 5 different categories of Healthcare worker and each category has a different FRE value. This ranges from £185 per tax year for active ambulance staff to £80 for uniformed ancillary staff, like receptionists and security. And that’s just for uniform laundering expenses.
It’s not too late and you don’t need any receipts
You can backdate a claim for 4 tax years, so it’s still possible to claim your full entitlement from 2014-15 and 2015-16 tax years. It doesn’t matter if you’ve ditched all your receipts because a Flat Rate Expense claim doesn’t require any receipt evidence.
More work related expenses that Healthcare workers are entitled to:
- Car Use and Business Mileage – if your employer only pays you a percentage of the total amount, then you can claim the difference. This includes using your own car for work journeys to a temporary workplace, such as midwives on home visits. But it does not include your daily commute to a hospital or clinic.
- Membership fees for Professional bodies – HMRC has a long list of ‘Approved bodies’ that negotiated an agreement stating that their members can claim back the tax paid on their membership fees. This could be a professional organisation or a Trade Union. For example, members of UNISON and NMC can claim tax relief on their fees.
You have already paid for these work related expenses out of your hard-earned wages, so make sure you reclaim your full entitlement. It’s the least you deserve!
Tony Shanks