PAYE / WFH what can you claim tax back for?

I'm pretty sure you can't claim for anything and even the £6 per week has stopped unless your employer doesn't have an office. I'm sure someone who knows more than me will be along but I'd look here as a starter
https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home

Washing your own branded clothing gets you a few quid back.

DT78
Free Member

and I’m about to kit out a study we have just built. employer will only provide a laptop and possibly if I cause a fuss some old manky keyboard / mouse etc…

I would like something nicer, bigger monitor etc… can run it through self assessment as an expense and claim tax back? I know self employed can, paye seems less clear when I have tried to read the guidance.

keep the receipts obviously

I would point work to the Display screen equipment regs https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/home-working.htm

and tell them they're funding a decent screen/keyboard/mouse setup.

Isn't there a politicians handbook on how to screw the system ?.

Work tools, boots, workwear etc. I suppose if you can think of something, and due to the above, there will be a tax(dodge) for claiming it back.

I think it only applied during Covid.

If you use kit exclusively for work, my understanding is if you buy it you can claim tax back on it, regardless of COVID. When things are 40% off they look a lot more attractive

Well it does look like they have changed the £6 allowance to be even worse than pre covid. they really should publicise these changes more.. you used to be able to claim for extra bill expenses etc.. no more it seems

if I was a contractor claiming for kit for wfh would be fine, it seems PAYE get screwed. the kit would just be used for work, I don't plan on spending more time in the study than I have to!

I quite like the branded uniform tax break. I'm going to get some monogrammed shirts and claim for washing them

You’re choosing to work at home, not sure why that should attract a tax break. Clothing has to be uniform supplied by your employer and they can’t offer laundry services.

I would point work to the Display screen equipment regs https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/home-working.htm

and tell them they’re funding a decent screen/keyboard/mouse setup.

Chair and desk too

What can you claim for washing at home ? Mrs FD has to wash her work scrubs

self employed contractor choses to work at home too at my place of work they can claim a tax break for tools required to do the job they don't need to put up with the cheapest second hand kit that can be got away with

anyway seems I can't.

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Should be paid by work not tax break. Your employer are requiring you to work from home your employer pays for you to work from home. That's included in your remuneration package.

Your employer are requiring you to work from home

Mine doesn't. They provide a fully serviced office, but allow us to WFH if we want to. Im not sure they have to provide any kit to do so, all the kit is in the office if I need it

I think it’s clear that the tax system including national insurance is more generous to the self employed. Some one tried to sort it and the red tops went crazy

You’re choosing to work at home, not sure why that should attract a tax break.

Are you sure? I didn't see anyone claim that.

I know for sure that when I start my new job there isn't enough office capacity to accommodate everyone, how do you square that circle regarding choice?

if I was a contractor claiming for kit for wfh would be fine, it seems PAYE get screwed.

Not really. For PAYE the employer should be buying the equipment and they will get the tax break. Its your employer screwing you here, not the taxman.

If you use kit exclusively for work, my understanding is if you buy it you can claim tax back on it

Yes and no. I wanted to claim for a monitor but it equipment can't be claimed for.

You’re choosing to work at home

I'm not. I don't have an office outside of my area at home. I can go in to a work site and squat somewhere but I have no desk I can call my own.

Should I travel to a site, I claim the full mileage as I 'Work From Home'

I wonder why you would think everyone is the same?

I think it’s clear that the tax system including national insurance is more generous to the self employed

Not massively.

Then there's no holiday pay, no sick pay, no employer pension contributions, no contract, buying your own equipment, no C2W, no free training etc, etc

What can you claim for washing at home ? Mrs FD has to wash her work scrubs

Get her to ring HMRC they will adjust her tax code and may offer a benefit.

I’m not. I don’t have an office outside of my area at home. I can go in to a work site and squat somewhere but I have no desk I can call my own.

I wonder why you would think everyone is the same?

Then you can claim as they’re not providing an office.

I don’t, I was answering the OP.

1 If you need equipment for doing a PAYE job then there employer should supply it.
2 See 1

Not sure why I as a taxpayer should subsidise your employer - would YOU be happy subsidising MY employer?

Google brings a hmrc page which I think tells you what you need. I think you probably can claim certain stuff if you have a home based contract.

Then there’s no holiday pay, no sick pay, no employer pension contributions, no contract, buying your own equipment, no C2W, no free training etc, etc

And this is reflex in the day rate of self employed Vs employee. What you list other than buying own equipment are different to expenses occurred for work. It's the buying own equipment part that becomes hard to to impossible to claim back for.

Frequently an employer doesn't see the benefit of equipment xyz so an employee may buy to make there life easier/ more comfortable etc but can't always claim it back. In my case it was a monitor.

Frequently an employer doesn’t see the benefit of equipment xyz so an employee may buy to make there life easier/ more comfortable etc but can’t always claim it back. In my case it was a monitor.

In that case it's just HMRC agreeing with the employer. You don't need it to do your job so its not claimable. Seems a reasonable stance for HMRC to take. It is the employer at fault here if it really is of benefit to the employee (and if they buy it they can claim the tax benefit).

You don't need to 'claim' anything.

The employee needs to provide you with everything you need to do the job safely and efficiently at home - in my case this means duplicating the setup that exists for office staff. Laptop, monitor risers, docking Station, big monitor, good keyboard and mouse, and a nice chair.

Display Screen Assesment is the tool you can use to push back if they are resisting this, but they really shouldn't.

You cannot do a working week safely hunched over a laptop screen.

In that case it’s just HMRC agreeing with the employer. You don’t need it to do your job so its not claimable.

I think you are in the "it has not happened to me so I can't possibly happen to anyone" mindset, you have had employers who have provided you with everything perfectly.

An employer may provide the equipment that in minimum necessary but that doesn't mean what the employee buys for work purposes should not be eligible to claim back tax on. My case was a monitor, I would not have bought the monitor if it was not for work requiment. I have had work mates who have bought tools because even though work had provided them with a xyz the one they bough was much nicer, easier, worked better. They technically could do the job without buying it but the tool was bought for work. Many time a company may buy something that is not necessary but makes a work environment or task better. It is possible for them to claim for this item, so why then can I as an employee not claim? There quite often limited motivation for an employer to approve and buy this extra item, it may be president setting, it may be they do not see the value but if I am prepared to spend my own money on it I should be able to claim the tax back.

Working at home bod here.

Screens etc I can get standard 27" monitor, keyboard and docking station from work BUT I choose to buy my own as want a bigger monitor, smaller keyboard etc - I can't claim anything - this is my choice.

I get £18 a month company contribution towards my broadband.

I can claim (on receipt basis) up to £500 towards the cost of office furniture and I must agree this can inspected by work for health and safety risks. If working from home ends within 3 years I have to pay back a % of the cost.

Basically work will provide the basics but if I want posh stuff I buy it myself. Seems fair to me. My study is also my personal space so I buy the posh stuff and suck it up.

Note I am contractually based at home. I don't choose to work here, my job is based here. If I worked at home out of choice I don't get to claim anything as work would say there is a perfectly good office for you to work in.

Hiya,

I have my own company and claim heating, and electric, equipment insurance, telephone and of course depreciation on equipment. I know the guidelines for WFH allow you to claim and the HMRC has guidelines on it. It's either your employer being lazy, or not passing on what they have claimed for you but that would be a form of fraud I think.

BR
JeZ

Much the same "tax breaks" are available... to the company. If you're PAYE only then you're not running a company... whoever is sorts out the costs and taxes.

Display Screen Assesment is the tool you can use to push back if they are resisting this, but they really shouldn’t.

You cannot do a working week safely hunched over a laptop screen.

This +1

You need to get to the bottom of this "full time WFH,PAYE though not on a remote worker contract", are the company expecting you to WFH, in which case they really should be providing everything.

Or are you employed in an office, with some allowance for some flexible working on your laptop.

It's not a tax subsidy of your employer, they'd claim the same VAT back, less profit to tax etc. as you might even under the most generous system. It's just a daft scenario than an employee is expected to pay for their own tools. Even my stingy employer gives us 2x monitors and a laptop (and 2x keyboards and mice) so we can take a monitor to leave at home or have 2x in the office.

I think you are in the “it has not happened to me so I can’t possibly happen to anyone” mindset, you have had employers who have provided you with everything perfectly.

Not at all. In fact quite the opposite. One of the reasons I no longer work at those places. This a shit company issue, not a shit HMRC issue (there are plenty of those, too, but this isn't one)

Expenses and Capital Allowances can be claimed against Schedule E income (i.e. employment income) however the test is more stringent than for Schedule D income (self employment, trading profit etc) as not only does it need to be wholly and exclusively for your work but also necessary which generally means if an alternative is available without incurring expense you can't claim it.

Not at all. In fact quite the opposite. One of the reasons I no longer work at those places. This a shit company issue, not a shit HMRC issue (there are plenty of those, too, but this isn’t one)

This put it more eloquently.

Either they value your contribution to the company sufficiently to provide you with the tools needed to make the most of your capabilities. Or they're idiots because a mid/high end* 24" or 27" monitor is what, £150?

*I.e. a nice looking IPS HP one that'll do 1080p60, 100%sRGB, not a 165hz 1ms, Adobe/pantone certified 4k OLED bheamoth.

I can go into the office if I choose, and use a hot desk, I choose not to (unless there is a specific reason, like a workshop) as often I head into the office and spend my time on teams to people wfh... seems pointless. I like to sit on a yoga ball as much as I can. Bit of a pain to transport that in...

Though, if everyone was to go into the office there is not enough capacity so technically not everyone has a desk....it just hasn't become an issue because of many still WFH. Newer employees have been hired on remote contracts, so I assume they can claim back for their expenses.

I'm sure if I ask I will be provided very basic kit from stores, so not particularly nice at all and mostly well used. Now I will have a dedicated work space at home (rather than the dining table) I was looking get a more permanent setup and as i spend alot of hours in there, a nice space with nice kit - I'm only asking if I can expense the tax, I'd still be paying for the majority of it.

Question has been answered. Nope you have to cover it yourself if you want anything above what your employer provides.

There is no subsidy / allowance at my place for things like broadband / heating etc... which you did used to be able to claim for - and I thought that was replaced by the £6pw allowance - now removed

(the comment about a monogrammed shirt was a joke btw, "brand me")

I would point work to the Display screen equipment regs https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/home-working.htm

and tell them they’re funding a decent screen/keyboard/mouse setup.

And I got a nice adjustable chair after requesting an OH referral for back pain which I was concerned may have been caused by the shit one they sent me at first.

I can go into the office if I choose, and use a hot desk, I choose not to (unless there is a specific reason, like a workshop)

In which case I don't believe you are entitled to anything as everything is in the office for you to use should you want.

I don't even think your employer has to provide you anything to comply with DSE regs at home as technically that's all in the office too. They have a duty of care if allowing you to work from home to check you have a suitable set up but they don't need to provide it for you.