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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: dannyboy on January 06, 2021, 09:14:12 AM

Title: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: dannyboy on January 06, 2021, 09:14:12 AM
Somebody mentioned yesterday (?), about having to work from home because of the current lockdown. (I am sorry but can not remember just who it was and can not find the post). The latest 'MoneySavingExpert.com' newsletter has a piece stating that tax relief for the year can be claimed. Might be worth checking out for those affected who are not aware  :hmmm:.

"5. Required to work from home, even for one day, since 6 Apr? Join the 1.4m+ who have claimed a year's tax relief. I've been shouting about this here and on my show since Oct, and my claim work-from-home tax back  blog's been viewed an incredible 6.6m times since. The rebate is worth £60 or £125 and HMRC told us last week about 1.4m had claimed. It's usually a doddle to do.

PS: Doing self-assessment for 2019/20? If you worked from home last March, you can claim for that too on your form, via the 'other expenses and capital allowances' box - more info in the blog.
"

Addit: Found it!  :). It was you @Lawrence (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=16) https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=659.msg688484#msg688484 (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=659.msg688484#msg688484)
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: Mr Sprue on January 06, 2021, 10:43:48 AM
Do you submit your own tax returns?
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: dannyboy on January 06, 2021, 10:51:20 AM
I do, but, I live in Ireland and am retired, so the above is not relevant to me. All I can suggest, for those of you in the UK, is that you have a look at the MoneySavingExpert.com website - it certainly seems that you should be able to get some tax relief.
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: Mr Sprue on January 06, 2021, 11:24:45 AM
I guess this rebate is a welcome for most, but are these figures based on weekly or yearly tax relief?
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: ChrisWV10 on January 06, 2021, 07:20:28 PM
I've done this as we've been working from home since mid March and we won't be back in the office before April.

You just enter the value you are claiming for the tax year and hmrc adjust your tax code. It's pretty quick. I submitted mine mid November and the new code was in my November pay.

You can claim £6 per week without submitting evidence so £312 for the whole year. Don't know what evidence is required to support a claim over £312.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home (https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/working-at-home)



Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: Mr Sprue on January 06, 2021, 09:29:48 PM
From what I can remember if a part of the home designated for business is claimed for tax relief, depending on the amount claimed there could be tax owed when the property is sold!

I looked into doing this years ago, my agent advised me not to!


Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: Rma on January 06, 2021, 09:49:15 PM
I've claimed this as well. Very easy to do and just an adjustment to my tax code.
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: Platy767 on January 06, 2021, 10:22:11 PM
The youngest Platypus worked from her home (teacher) during the NSW lockdown in the first half of 2020 and claimed $0.80 per hour "working from home" as a deduction. All supported by the Australian Tax Office.

https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Working-from-home-deductions-because-of-COVID-19---Easier-to-read-information/ (https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Working-from-home-deductions-because-of-COVID-19---Easier-to-read-information/)

The 3rd cricket test between India and Australia starts today in Sydney, with 25% capacity crowd allowed, but masks are mandatory (not the players!) , so should be a sight.
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: Mr Sprue on January 06, 2021, 10:28:46 PM
Well FWIW after getting my self employment grants I'm not going to push my luck!  :)
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: Skyline2uk on January 06, 2021, 10:36:06 PM
I did this towards the end of last year when second lockdown arrived and it was clear not going back to office for a while.

HMRC have actually made it very easy and (just checked), you shouldn't have to tell them when you go back to the office, especially now lockdown 3 will take us to end of Tax Year.

Skyline2uk
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: Mr Sprue on January 06, 2021, 10:44:43 PM
Yes the bottom line is you have to be honest with them being that covid has severely disrupted and affected your business.

It all tax deductible over the threshold and rightly so!
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: ntpntpntp on January 06, 2021, 10:46:53 PM
Yep dead easy to apply online, I did so a few months ago. 

The March lockdown pretty much kicked my company into a culture change they'd been planning anyway. We've gone almost entirely working from home except for essential jobs that have to be done in the offices, and they don't intend to return to having everyone come in.  Satellite office buildings are up for sale, and we'll end up with just one main building where we can book meetings for essential face-to-face stuff.

I've really enjoyed working from home and not missed the office at all.
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: longbow on January 06, 2021, 11:36:18 PM
There's a good guide to the tax implications of working at home here - https://www.jacksonstephen.co.uk/blog/the-tax-implications-of-working-from-home-during-covid-19 (https://www.jacksonstephen.co.uk/blog/the-tax-implications-of-working-from-home-during-covid-19)
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: mr magnolia on January 07, 2021, 07:25:39 AM
Not all employers will be in a position to do this, but my employer paid everyone £312 tax free for home working expenses ahead of winter.
We chose that because we could, but also because most staff are paye and do not normally fill out tax returns.

It might be worth starting a conversation along those lines if you are employed and working from home.

Donald
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: Calnefoxile on January 07, 2021, 08:49:51 AM

As an employee of the Ambulance Service we can claim this back through our normal expenses system. We can claim £2.40 a day.

As Support Staff we are working from home but go into the Office if we need to do work on some kit that we can't get to remotely.

Am I enjoying it, dunno really, I do seem to be tied to my laptop more than I would in the Office but I am sat in my Railway Room with the Radio on but not able to run any trains whilst I'm working as my desk is not big enough for Laptop & Trains, mmmm might need to try and change that somehow  ;) ;)

Stay Safe everyone.

Cheers

Neal.
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: dannyboy on January 07, 2021, 09:11:35 AM
Quote from: Calnefoxile on January 07, 2021, 08:49:51 AM

my desk is not big enough for Laptop & Trains, mmmm might need to try and change that somehow  ;) ;)


Easy problem to sort - get a smaller laptop.  ;)
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: mr magnolia on January 07, 2021, 11:09:54 AM
Ive managed to get around the problem by having a desk in my shed that is completely surrounded by the railroad. Creating the bridge that allows me entry was a lucky pre-lockdown project!

Donald
Title: Re: Working From Home In Lockdown - Tax Relief
Post by: Trainfish on January 07, 2021, 02:39:48 PM
Quote from: Calnefoxile on January 07, 2021, 08:49:51 AM
I am sat in my Railway Room with the Radio on but not able to run any trains whilst I'm working as my desk is not big enough for Laptop & Trains, mmmm might need to try and change that somehow  ;) ;)

Neal.

As you know Neal I have plenty of room in the train room for me, a laptop, TV, Sky Q etc etc. In fact it would easily accommodate 2 people. Now, if only I could find that job working from home.............. Or any job really would be a start.