The Benefits and Allowances You Could Be Entitled to for Wearing a Uniform

 People who are required to clean, repair, or replace specialised work clothing are eligible for a unique form of tax relief known as uniform tax rebates. These rebates are also sometimes referred to as uniform benefits or HMRC uniform allowances. There are specific rules governing who is eligible for it and what constitutes a "uniform," but it is not always obvious what those rules are. As a direct consequence of this, a lot of people are passing up the opportunity to receive tax refunds that add up to hundreds or even thousands of pounds over the course of their lifetimes.

The following requirements must be met in order to qualify for a standard tax rebate:

• Work requires you to wear specific types of clothing. It does not have to be something as specific as overalls or a suit, but it must be an element that is essential to the performance of your job. Putting on a costume of a chicken while working as a performer in an amusement park most likely meets the requirements. Putting one on while working as an accountant might not be appropriate.
• You are responsible for paying for the maintenance and the laundry. You are not allowed to file a tax refund claim for money that is not coming directly out of your own pocket.
• Pay Taxes on Your Income. This is something that should be obvious to everyone. You are not eligible for a tax refund if you are not currently required to pay that tax.

WHAT REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX REBATES?

A lot of people get confused when it comes to the question of what constitutes a uniform. You can't just submit any clothes you wear to work as a claim for reimbursement. In order for your clothing to count as a requirement for your job, it must be clear that it is one.

For instance, even if your employer requires you to wear a suit to work, you won't be eligible for tax relief if you just wear a regular suit. However, if you wear a jumper with your employer's logo on it, you are eligible for tax relief (unless the logo is on a badge that can be removed or something similar).

Even if the clothes were provided to you by your employer, this does not mean that you are entitled to reimbursement for the cost of cleaning them. You are not eligible for a cash refund from HMRC if your "uniform" is something that you could wear outside of work if it is reasonable to do so.

There are obviously some tricky grey areas to navigate here, and we're not just talking about collars that need to be cleaned. Many individuals wind up either not claiming what they are entitled to or receiving stern looks from the taxman because they have claimed more than they are entitled to. Seek the counsel of an expert if you are unsure as to whether or not the clothes you wear to work qualify as a uniform so that you can determine exactly where you stand.