Calculate Your Uniform Tax Refund Easily

The uniform tax refund calculator is for anyone who is employed under PAYE and earns enough to pay tax.

A uniform allowance is available to everyone with an HMRC recognised uniform, regardless of your job description.

It can also apply to people who wear and wash their own protective clothing for example a hi-jacket worn by a construction worker.

The calculator uses HMRC’s official flat rate expense allowances to estimate your potential refund.

Simply select your industry, job title, number of qualifying years, and tax rate.

The tool then estimates your rebate based on the standard allowances for your profession, typically ranging from £60 to £185 annually depending on your role.

How is a uniform tax refund calculated?

The uniform tax allowance is agreed by HMRC with the basic allowance being worth £60 per tax year, but this can increase to as much as £720 per year depending on the type of job you have.

A uniform tax refund is calculated using the rate of tax you pay on your income with most common rates being at 20% or 40% for higher rate taxpayers.

For basic rate taxpayers this means that you receive a tax refund worth 20% of the uniform allowance.

If your uniform allowance is worth £60 this would equate to refund of tax worth £12 per tax year.

Other tax code allowances have been approved by HMRC to cover the cost of other work related expenses like hand tools bought by a joiner.

The allowances are called flat rate expenses and you can find a comprehensive list in our flat rate expenses directory.

A uniform tax refund claim can reduce the amount of tax you pay

Making a work uniform tax refund claim can save you money now and in the future too by reducing the tax you pay on your income.

HMRC makes it your responsibility to reclaim your tax refund on uniform and for any other employment expenses.

This bit is important because unless you make the effort to find out what you are eligible to claim for and then follow the claims process you will receive none of your entitlement.

You will get:

• A tax rebate for the last four tax years in the form of a cheque or BACS transfer.
• A new tax code reflecting your uniform washing allowance and any other expenses you have. This means you will pay less tax and get more take home pay.

Is the uniform allowance given automatically?

HMRC expects you to claim the uniform allowance meaning it is not generally applied to your tax code automatically.

The responsibility to reclaim the work uniform allowance for previous tax years also sits with the taxpayer.

If you only update your tax code for the current tax year and are eligible to claim for previous years but don’t tell HMRC by following their claims process you won’t receive the tax relief you are entitled to.

Does HMRC need receipts with my uniform tax refund claim?

HMRC does not need you to provide receipts or maintain records when claiming a flat rate for uniform tax.

Opting to claim for a flat rate expense takes away the need to track how much you spend on maintaining your uniform or acquiring job related tools.

Can I claim a tax rebate for anything else?

At the same time as claiming back a work uniform tax refund you can apply for other types of expenses.

The tax office call these employment expenses and they all have to be claimed for by you and will not be given automatically.

Some of the popular employment expenses that taxpayers often claim with a uniform claim are:

• Professional and Union fees.
• Tools and equipment.
• Travel to temporary places of work either in your own vehicle or by public transport.
• Use of home for work.

Finding out if you can claim for more than just your uniform can really pay off with rebates being backdated for several years being added to a saving of income tax for future tax years.

Work uniform tax refund example

Chris is a mechanic and he has to launder his own protective clothing because his employer does not provide uniform washing facilities.

As a mechanic he is entitled to the basic uniform allowance worth £60 and an additional £60 tool allowance to help cover the cost of any hand tools bought for work.

Because Chris pays tax at the basic rate of 20% he receives tax relief worth 20% of the £120 flat rate totaling £24 per tax year.

Before you make your work uniform tax refund claim

In preparation for your claim it is recommended that you check your current tax code to ensure the uniform allowance isn’t already included in your code.

Making a quick check before you claim could stop you making a claim for something you have already received.

You can check your tax code and personal allowance by using your personal tax account or by downloading the HMRC app to your mobile phone.

How to start your uniform tax refund claim

To start your uniform rebate claim you can contact HMRC and make your claim:

1. Online – Through your personal tax account at gov.uk (usually the fastest method).
2. By post – Download and print the P87 form from the HMRC website.
3. Self assessment – Self assessment taxpayers should include your uniform allowance in the employment section of your tax return.

Application Process

1. Log in to your HMRC personal tax account or download a P87 form.
2. Provide your personal details and employer information.
3. Select ‘Uniforms, work clothing, and tools’ as your expense type.
4. Choose between claiming:
   • The actual amount spent (requires receipts as evidence).
   • The fixed flat rate amount for your occupation.
5. Submit your claim.
6. If using self assessment, include the claim in box 18 of the SA102 employment page.

Typical timeline for receiving your refund

After submitting your claim, you can expect:

• Online claims: Roughly 2-4 weeks for processing.
• Postal P87 claims: Around 8-12 weeks for processing.
• Complex claims or missing information: 12+ weeks

When the claim has been submitted any repayment of income tax due will be refunded and an adjustment to your current tax code is usually made at the same time.

Your tax code updating with the uniform allowance will mean you shouldn’t need to make a further claim for uniform in the future.

If your claim remains in “pending” status beyond these timeframes, contact HMRC directly through:

• Phone: HMRC helpline at 0300 200 3300.
• Online: Message service in your personal tax account.
• Post: Write to the address on your original claim form.

Tips for a smooth application

1. Check your specific allowance – Don’t assume the standard £60 rate applies to you.
2. Claim for multiple years – You can backdate claims for up to 4 previous tax years.
3. Keep records – Save digital copies of receipts if claiming actual expenses.
4. Provide accurate employer details – Include correct PAYE reference numbers.
5. Update your bank details – Ensure HMRC has your current account information for faster payment.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Claiming for ineligible items (initial purchase cost, everyday clothing).
2. Missing the opportunity to claim for previous years.
3. Not checking if a higher industry-specific allowance applies to you.
4. Submitting incomplete information, causing processing delays.
5. Failing to keep copies of your submission for reference.

Uniform Tax Refund Frequently Answered Questions:

Am I eligible if I work part-time or have multiple jobs?
Yes, eligibility depends on whether you pay income tax and are required to purchase or maintain work clothing, not your employment status.

Part-time workers and those with multiple jobs can use the calculator, though your tax rate and total refund may vary based on your overall income.

What should I do if my job isn’t listed in the calculator?
If your specific job title isn’t listed, select the closest match within your industry.

The calculator uses HMRC’s standard allowances, which are often grouped by industry sector rather than specific job titles.

You can also contact HMRC directly for clarification on unusual professions.

Do I need to keep uniform receipts?
No, HMRC doesn’t require receipts for uniform tax claims. The system works on agreed flat-rate allowances rather than actual receipts, which makes claiming much easier.

You simply need to confirm that you do wash and maintain your uniform for work – no paperwork required.

Is there any cost to use the calculator or get an estimate?
The calculator is completely free to use and provides instant estimates.

There’s no obligation to proceed with a claim, and you can use it as many times as needed to explore different scenarios or update your information.

Can I claim if I work in healthcare or emergency services?
Yes, healthcare workers, emergency service personnel, and other public sector employees are often entitled to significant uniform tax refunds.

Many don’t realise they can claim for items like uniform laundering, replacement scrubs, or specialised footwear that their job requires.

How accurate are the calculator results?
The calculator provides average estimates based on HMRC’s established flat rate expenses for different industries and job roles.

While individual circumstances may vary, these figures give you a reliable indication of what you can expect.

Remember, you may be entitled to claim for up to four previous tax years, which can significantly increase your total refund amount.

Can the calculator help with other work-related expense claims?
The uniform tax calculator focuses specifically on uniform and work clothing expenses.

Many workers who qualify for uniform refunds are also entitled to claim for tools, professional fees, or travel expenses.

You can find more tax rebate calculators on different topics listed below:

• PAYE tax refund calculator 
• Mileage tax rebate calculator
• CIS tax rebate calculator
• Leaving the UK tax back calculator
• Higher rate pension tax relief calculator
• Mechanics tax rebate calculator
• Tool tax rebate calculator
• MOD tax refund calculator