This is easy, DO NOT use a third party company their cuts of 40%+ are completely unnecessary. It takes less than 30 mins.

As a teacher, I understand it, you are permitted to claim back £60 a year ‘to cover the cost of upkeep and replacement of specialist or protective clothing’; Teachers of Science this covers lab coats, aprons, etc. I’m sure lots of us also have other clothing to upkeep.

You are allowed to claim for the last 5 tax years. That means £60 x 5 years is £300 (a minimum you can claim tax relief on).

‘Thanks Pran YOU’RE AWESOME’

It and I get better. God I sound like a [insert expletive]

You could also reclaim tax on fees or subscriptions you pay to professional organisations but it has to relate to your job (sorry your membership to the professional gardener’s guild isn’t going to cut it). These cannot lifetime memberships and you have to pay for them yourself.

Some common organisations,

1. The NEU / NASUWT / NAHT / ASCL – Yes your union payments. These will add up. Either contact your union for the amount you paid or use your online banking app to find out.
2. Royal Societies of Arts
3. Association for Science Education (ASE)
4. Chartered College of Teaching.
5. For a full list go here – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/professional-bodies-approved-for-tax-relief-list-3/approved-professional-organisations-and-learned-societies

“Please, sir could I have some more?”

Okay, just a little.

Conferences, journeys to temporary places of work, trips, etc. if you are paying out of your own pocket, that means you don’t claim it back from school (like all of the above), you can claim, public transport costs, hotel accommodation if you have to stay overnight, food and drink, congestion charges and tolls, parking fees, business phone calls and printing costs. This does not cover travel to the normal workplace.

Any more Patel?

Erm Maybe

Yes one more and this is a contentious issue, I don’t think that teacher should be buying resources for their classroom. However, teachers do. If the upkeep of your uniform and the tools you buy to replace is more than £60, keep the receipts you can claim the tax on these back. I have never done this but it’s in the process below.

Steps:

1. Go to https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/claim-tax-relief-expenses/who-claiming-for
2. Then fill in the following – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-income-tax-relief-for-your-employment-expenses-p87
3. Sign up and fill in the form. The link is called claim online. (example below)
4. I think you will need your passport (or other ID) and your employers PAYE reference (on you p 60).

1. Your tax code will now change – you don’t have to do this every year. If your circumstances do change i.e. you start paying more fees – you can do this via the phone.
2. Then wait for them to come back to you.
3. As a freelancer, these times are extremely hard. Finally – please do visit, consider and share our support us page.

Lockdown Update

On March 24th 2020 the British government enforced a lockdown which means that you are forced to work from home. This means that every teacher in the country is allowed to claim for the increased costs due to working from home that heating, electricity, broadband, etc.