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Despite its digital ambitions, HMRC has recently reverted to paper-based claims for employees who want to make a claim for employment expenses. The change from an online basis has been made to reduce fraud.
Reports suggest that businesses are claiming expenses even when there is little, or no, business relevance in an attempt to counteract increasingly onerous tax burdens. Given HMRC’s move to paper-based claims for employment expenses, it seems as if some employees may have adopted a similar attitude. Tax refund companies have also misused the expenses system in order to obtain inflated tax repayments.
Form P87
Employees can claim tax relief for expenses through PAYE if they have not been reimbursed by their employer. From 14 October this year, claims must be made using a paper form P87 which is then posted to HMRC. Claims have to be supported by appropriate evidence. For example:
Despite the change, online claims can still be made for flat rate expenses (uniform, work clothing and tools). HMRC expects the digital claim route to be available again from next April.
Self-assessment
An alternative to claiming via PAYE is to claim for employment expenses when submitting a self-assessment tax return. If employment expenses for the year exceed £2,500, this is the only permitted route.
Although there is no initial requirement to provide evidence when claiming employment expenses this way, HMRC will be extending the number of compliance checks on the eligibility of expense claims made. In such cases, they may request further evidence.
HMRC guidance on claiming tax relief for employment expenses can be found here.
THE AUTHOR
Manager, Personal Tax
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