uniform allowance

A question about : uniform allowance

Hi, has anyone had any joy claiming the uniform tax allowance as part of the forces? I heard different things regarding if we are entitled or not. The website of hmrc states officer have it built into their tax code but nothing about lower ranks?

Shed any light, anyone?

Best answers:

• I believe everyone is more or less in the same boat, although even if you didnt get it as a OR you would still be ahead as you can one for one any of your kit for free; officers have to pay for any items outside of core working rig (ie, MTP, naval No 4s, etc).
  Regards
  DS
• You could apply for your tax code to be altered to take into account certain thinks (or you could a few years back) This includes the cost of laundring uniforms.
  As a nurse I recieved a nice form the RCN which all I did was tick the boxes and sent it off. This included professional fees and professional bodies (IE RCN) and Journal Subscriptions.
  Strangly it also included shoes and hosiery! (assuming all nurses are female)
  As for the armed forces, when I last looked it was "being looked into"....
  Pete
• I think HMRC are looking into whether the Armed Forces should get a uniform laundering tax relief. I launder a lot of it so consider my self a bit of an expert at the washing bit, try to persuade him to do some of the ironing, though ;-). They'll make a decision in their own time, I expect, not deal with each case separately.
• I looked at this and read that Officers have it taken into account in their tax code, but other ranks don't because there should be laundering services available to them (imagine if everyone were to start using this service!).
• They've been "looking into it" since 2007 when it was first mooted that members of the military should be able to claim. It was first denied because (apparently?) all military uniform can be laundered at public expense at no cost to the serviceman(!) The reality being that the best a serviceman can hope for is access to a coin-operated washing machine, where they still have to provide their own washing powder.
  HM Forces are the only uniformed organisation that cannot claim this tax allowance. When Martin Lewis is on Radio 2 going on about how everyone can claim it, ive tried getting through to challenge this and get him to take it up on behalf of the 150,000 or so servicemen and women who fund their own uniform cleaning with no re-imbursement from the tax office.
  Perhaps he reads this thread and can do something?
• There was a DIN published a few months back about this.
  If you dug it out, you could ring the sponsor for more information.
• https://www.hmrc.gov.uk/news/mod-flat-rate.htm
  We have now reached an agreement with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) that the following annual flat rate expense allowance (FREA) is due in respect of laundering your uniform:
• Royal Navy Ј80
• Army Ј100
• Royal Marines Ј100
• Royal Air Force Ј100

This allowance will be given by means of an adjustment to your current tax code for 2013-14 and will be shown as an 'Earlier Years Adjustment'. In most cases the revised code number will be operated against March 2014 pay although a few may take effect in February 2014. This will usually mean that you pay less tax in the month the revised tax code is applied (if you are not currently in employment but you complete a Self Assessment tax return we will add the adjustment to your statement of account). The allowance (dependent on your length of service) will be given retrospectively to the tax year commencing 6 April 2008. You will receive the full amount of expenses due for each year of service, it will not be reduced if your service started or ceased part-way through a year.
We will also include any repayment supplement you may be due (we pay compensation to customers where there is a delay in making a repayment. This payment is called a repayment supplement (RPS)). The average annual interest rate over the period is 0.5%.

• I don't quite understand it, does this mean I will get a tax rebate or that they will alter my tax code automatically ? And repay me my earlier years of service? Or are they going to bring out a form that we have to fill out ?
• Reading between the lines, the DIN doesn't say how it's claimed.
  Yes it can be back dated to Apr 08, so your entitled to claim for years served since that date.
  Don't fall into the trap, like I did, of expecting Ј100 a year. That would be great. But the example the DIN gives is at standard tax levels. So the claim is for 20% (Ј20 for most services per year, Ј16 for the Navy)
  Hope that helps
• So will this automatically go into your wage or will you have to put in a claim?
• 2008-2009 = Ј20 + Repayment supplement
  2009-2010 = Ј20 + Repayment supplement
  2010-2011 = Ј20 + Repayment supplement
  2011-2012 = Ј20 + Repayment supplement
  2012-2013 = Ј20 + Repayment supplement
  2013-2014 = Ј20 + Repayment supplement
  So - Ј120 ish in your pocket eventually.
  6 Apr 2014 Onwards - included in Tax Code.
• I haven't seen the DIN, but does it say why the Navy are getting less than the other two Services?
• I was wondering if any of you maybe able to help me, my husband works for the Royal Mail and we sent the letter about the uniform cleaning allowance, they replied saying we have to fill in a PD11 form showing the expenses spent on the cleaning which I cannot show as it has just been done at home - any advice anyone??
• As I understand it, this has been quashed many times (by the RAF) over the last couple of years because yes, uniform can be sent off through clothing stores for laundering. This is why the scaling of shirts etc. was increased a while back.
  The trouble is, you would have to drop off and collect items every couple of days in order to ensure a constant supply of clean uniform which is why very few personnel, if any, do it.
• Have looked into this for my lads, the DIN is actually rather clear for a change.
  1. Enlisted people only, Officers rules to follow
  2. your going to get about Ј120 unless your on higher rate tax but thats only going to be the odd couple of people they may get more but didn't follow that train as its not applicable to our lads
  3. Paraphrasing, you are not required to take any action, the money will go directly into your pay slip, you are not to directly contact HMRC with regards to this.
  Of course its probably going to take years to get sorted through JPA but at least you dont need to take any action.
  Hope that helps.
  I you want to read the DIN its about the 4th one down the 2014 list under personnel.
• I have to say I think that it is properly gash that I get seen off for being part of the Rodger Nigel can't say I'm surprised though pretty standard especially when your in the fleet air arm and you spend more time on the ground rather than on ship
• Is this the same for the police or do we get it automatically?