Martin Lewis has urged workers to fill in a form on the official government website to check whether they are eligible for a "small" amount of money back. The MoneySavingExpert founder says certain employees may be able to get £60 or more if they can backdate it.
Who can claim uniform tax relief?
Speaking on a recent episode of his BBC Sounds The Martin Lewis Podcast, he explained how workers who wear a uniform could be missing out on tax relief. He went on to break down to listeners what they could be entitled to, and how to get it.
He said: "If you wear a uniform to work, including just a branded t-shirt or overalls, and crucially, you wash and have to maintain them yourself, and you don't use them elsewhere... then you are entitled to a very small tax rebate, which is back dateable up to four years."
Warning about third-party claims firms
Martin Lewis has issued a warning about using third-party claims firms. Many commercial companies advertise their services to help you recover uniform tax, but they can take up to 50% of your payout in hidden charges. He encouraged workers to do it themselves for free in just a few minutes by filling out a quick P87 form online at gov.uk.
"To claim it, you do not need to pay anyone to do it. There are people who advertise - don't. It is dead easy. There is a form on gov.uk. It is called Tax Relief for Employees Uniform. Just search 'gov.uk Tax Relief for Employees Uniform'. Or, if you do a self assessment form, you do it in your self assessment tax return."
How much can you get?
Martin Lewis said the flat rate is that you get a £60 allowance. He added: "Now the tax saving on £60 for a basic rate tax payer is £12. If you pay tax at the 40% rate it is £24 a year. But you can back date it four years. It can be £60, it can be £120."
He went on to tell listeners that some people have more specific uniforms with higher allowances. "So, a dental nurse, for example, the allowance is £125, which means it is worth £25 a year at the basic tax rate," he said. "Pilots' allowance is £1,000 a year, though most pilots will know about it, which means it is worth £200. A mechanic's allowance is £120 a year."
He said the exact allowance depends on what your job is and how important the uniform is as part of that. He said: "But the minimum is a £60 allowance, which you would pay £12 tax on, but you get that as tax free. So for £60, the saving is £12, and you can backdate it up to four years."
To qualify for a uniform tax refund, you must wear a distinctive or specialised uniform for your job. This ranges from a simple branded T-shirt or polo shirt with a company logo to full nursing scrubs, police kits, or pilot uniforms. Plain clothes (like a generic black shirt or suit) do not count.
You must be the one to wash, repair, or replace it yourself. Your employer must not already provide a free laundry service or pay you an allowance to cover these costs.
