Claim tax deduction for working from home

Employees who are working from home may be eligible to claim a tax deduction on certain work-related bills. If their employer does not cover these expenses or allowances, they can claim tax relief directly from HMRC.

You can claim tax relief if you are required to work from home, such as if your job requires you to live far from your office or if your employer does not have an office. However, tax relief is typically not available if you choose to work from home, even if your employment contract allows it or if your office is occasionally full.

Employees can claim tax relief of £6 per week (or £26 per month for those paid monthly) to cover additional costs of working from home without needing to keep specific records. The amount of tax relief you receive depends on your highest tax rate. For instance, if you pay the 20% basic rate of tax, you will receive £1.20 per week in tax relief (20% of £6). Alternatively, you can claim the exact amount of additional costs incurred, but you must provide evidence to HMRC. HMRC accepts backdated claims for up to four previous tax years.

You may also be eligible to claim tax relief for using your own vehicle, whether it’s a car, van, motorcycle, or bike. Generally, there is no tax relief for regular commuting to and from your usual workplace. However, the rules differ for temporary workplaces, where such expenses are typically allowable, or if you use your own vehicle for other business-related mileage. Additionally, you may be able to claim tax relief on equipment purchased for work, such as a laptop, chair, or mobile phone.

If you are an employee who is working from home, you may be able to claim tax relief for some of your bills that are related to your work. If your expenses or allowances are not paid by your employer, then you can claim tax relief directly from HMRC.