claiming tax back on tools

[crossy 666]

Hi, at bit of a strange one but dose anyone know anything about claiming tax back on tools ? 

I am not self employed as I work in a garage for someone but we have to supply are own tools to do the job. I was doing nothing over the weekend due to the weather being so bad so I thought I would get some of my old tickets out for tools I have brought over the last few years. 

Well when I got to 25k I decided I needed to stop adding them up before the wife asked me what I was doing and offered to help. The total figure would cost me double if she new ?

any way I was talking about it at work today and someone mentioned I might be able to claim some sort of tax back due to me paying tax on my wages then tax again on tools I need for my job. 

So can I ask if anyone as any done this before and can give me any advice please?

If you are self employed I think it’s a different matter so probably wouldn’t help me. 

Thanks crossy ?

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Have a look through this;

https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/uniforms-work-clothing-and-tools

Capital allowance is what you are after I think.

Edited January 26, 2018 by TIGHTCHOKE

[JohnfromUK]

Normally, if you are 'employed', your employer provides the tools.

I'm not an accountant, but I don't believe you can claim back as an employee.  If you are self employed, you can claim back against your earnings from that self employment,

If you are 'employed', but have an additional part time 'self employed' occupation (e.g. you might do some part time paid gardening), I believe you can claim tools used (on the self employed activity) solely against tax paid on your earnings from the seif employed work - NOT from any tax on employed pay earned from your main employer.

Don't take this as gospel as I'm no expert, but it is what I believe to be the case.

Edited January 26, 2018 by JohnfromUK

[winnie&bezza]

I was told you can claim for tools and expenses if your employed but didn’t look into it. 

[bornfree]

1 hour ago, JohnfromUK said:

Normally, if you are 'employed', your employer provides the tools.

I'm not an accountant, but I don't believe you can claim back as an employee.  If you are self employed, you can claim back against your earnings from that self employment,

If you are 'employed', but have an additional part time 'self employed' occupation (e.g. you might do some part time paid gardening), I believe you can claim tools used (on the self employed activity) solely against tax paid on your earnings from the seif employed work - NOT from any tax on employed pay earned from your main employer.

Don't take this as gospel as I'm no expert, but it is what I believe to be the case.

most engineers provide their own tools. there is a fixed rate expenses you can claim but its not much.

[Royboy]

I claimed a few years ago but I’m not sure if it’s changed now ?

[JohnfromUK]

28 minutes ago, bornfree said:

most engineers provide their own tools. there is a fixed rate expenses you can claim but its not much.

Interesting; I suppose it depends on what branch of engineering. 

I was a electronics engineer (now retired) and in all my employments (2 large companies, 1 medium company, 3 small companies) my employer provided all tools, test equipment, stationary etc.  Many people did provide some items themselves (e.g. a favourite pocket calculator etc.) but by and large no 'personal tools'.  In the last 10 years - personal tools were not actually allowed without prior approval owing to Health and Safety rules and BS/ISO qualification rules (mainly internal to the company, but also mandatory electrical safety tests on electrical items and mandatory calibration/traceability on any measuring tools) rules. 

[Medic1281]

I’ve just claimed for professional registration, union fees, and washing my own uniform. I could claim for the last 5 years. There was also sections for business mileage and other expenses. I found the link on money saving expert. You need to set up a gateway account on the .gov website and can then access your tax information and submit forms. It was relatively easy in the end. I think the form is P87 or something similar. 

Edited January 26, 2018 by Medic1281
Corrected form number to p87

[Brad93]

Yep PAYE doesn’t work well for the employee when they work in a trade that requires you but you’re own hand tools. 

[Jonty]

If you are successful in claiming something back, keep an eye on your tax code afterwards.  I had a very heavy travel year a while back and claimed the tax relief back on the mileage HMRC allowance v my employers allowance. My tax code got changed to accommodate this although it was a one off year for me.  Admittedly they did notify me of the new code, but not being a tax accountant it didn't mean much to me.  Long story short, over a series of years I underpaid tax, which in their usual,gracious way, HMRC asked back for all at once.  So just take care that if you can claim back as a one off, they don't change your code to reflect that every year.

[Medic1281]

5 minutes ago, Jonty said:

If you are successful in claiming something back, keep an eye on your tax code afterwards.  I had a very heavy travel year a while back and claimed the tax relief back on the mileage HMRC allowance v my employers allowance. My tax code got changed to accommodate this although it was a one off year for me.  Admittedly they did notify me of the new code, but not being a tax accountant it didn't mean much to me.  Long story short, over a series of years I underpaid tax, which in their usual,gracious way, HMRC asked back for all at once.  So just take care that if you can claim back as a one off, they don't change your code to reflect that every year.

That’s worth knowing, thank you. 

[Vince Green]

It falls very strongly into the area of "nothing ventured....." Sometimes you get lucky, always claim for everything.

It doesn't cost you anything if you do get knocked back so no harm trying.

I doubt you will get much retrospectively for things you bought a few years ago. Fill in a tax return every year and put down everything you bought in that year . Always elect for a refund if you can

Often I strongly believe, if its not a huge amount, they can't be bothered to query it and it goes through on the nod

Edited January 26, 2018 by Vince Green

[Wb123]

It's absolutely worth trying, I came unstuck with a similar but lower value claim I was trying to backdate as they wanted a letter from the employer confirming they would not provide said kit and that it was essential for the job. Larger value items I understand sometimes they will only write down as capital expense over seven years. 

In my experience hmrc are very easy to deal with by phone. 

[amateur]

The rule for employed workers used to be that you could claim for expenses "wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred" for the performance of your employment., and certainly when I was employed my professional subscription used to be claimed for (where it was not reimbursed by the employer, as it often was).

I am no tax accountant, but, if you have to buy the tools to be able to do your job and if you only use them at work and nowhere else, it would be worth a punt.

As above, large value items may require different treatment, and in certain industries there certainly used to be fixed sums allowed for various expenses, but, as I said, I am not a tax accountant, and it may be worth you speaking to one, and at least, talk to HMCR

 

[crossy 666]

Thanks for all the advice. I have found a company that is willing to do it for my but they want 25%+vat for doing it for me so might have to look into it a bit harder I think 

[scotslad]

Wot do the other mechanics do?

 

I was speaking to an agri mechanic the other week and he has to provide almost ALL the tools for the back of his van.

Must be a clossul expense the amount of tackle he had (even more than a mechanic due to the wider nature and heavier plant)

Unfortunately no idea wot happens with tax refunds

[Jason_ox]

I’m a heavy plant mechanic working for one of the largest outfits in the mechanical equipment industry and I have to buy all my tools, the company will only purchase a tool if it’s a specialised tool. I’d be interested to know if anyone has claimed tax back etc. I must have spent £1,000s over the years

[Medic1281]

This is from the note on form p87.

 

4. Uniforms, work clothing and tools

You may be able to claim tax relief on the cost of:

• repairing or replacing small tools you need to do your job (for example, scissors or an electric drill)
• cleaning, repairing or replacing specialist clothing (for example, a uniform or safety boots)

You can’t claim relief on the initial cost of buying small tools or clothing for work.

If you need to buy other equipment to use in your job, you can claim capital allowances instead.

[Winston72]

beat me to it

50k on tools?????????????*** thats insane or maybe im tight

[team tractor]

40 minutes ago, Winston72 said:

beat me to it

50k on tools?????????????*** thats insane or maybe im tight

Crossys minted anyway  

hes in the motortrade so a few torque wrench’s and your in the thousands. 

[Winston72]

i am genuinely surprised , i have a faily decent tool kit as a heating engineer, and i grumble at that running around 4k

I should have been a brickie, 90 quid all in lol

[team tractor]

8 hours ago, Winston72 said:

i am genuinely surprised , i have a faily decent tool kit as a heating engineer, and i grumble at that running around 4k

I should have been a brickie, 90 quid all in lol

And then want top money don’t forget.

[scotslad]

Or a painter, about £2.50

 

I was  shocked speaking to that agri engineer he did have a massive amount of tools (tranny overloaded heavy), must be hard as a young apprentice to build up that amount of tool's on there poor wages

[team tractor]

8 hours ago, Winston72 said:

i am genuinely surprised , i have a faily decent tool kit as a heating engineer, and i grumble at that running around 4k

I should have been a brickie, 90 quid all in lol

We’ve spent £80k this year inc £40k on new saw, plane, edgebander, spindle etc

[davewh100]

i must be one of the lucky ones any tools or clothing i need just get it on acount and company pays for them no question asked