Teacher Tax Rebate Information

The majority of Teachers in the UK are entitled to claim teacher tax relief on the cost of the fees for their chosen professional body, like the National Education Union

As part of a teacher tax rebate claim, other expenses incurred for work purposes can be claimed. For example the cost of specialist clothing, books and journals, equipment for work use and qualifying travelling expenses. As a result of a teacher tax rebate claim HMRC typically make an adjustment to your tax code meaning that you will pay less tax for future years as long as you incur the job related expense.

On this page you will find information about:

Teacher Tax Rebate for professional fees

The criteria:

  • You incur the cost of the professional fee
  • You are not reimbursed by your employer

How much can be claimed?

The amount of teacher tax relief that can be claimed does change. The amount allowable is dependent upon the agreement made between HMRC and the professional body. Some organisations have secured tax relief on the whole amount, some on a percentage of the total fee. You need to check with your organisation.

What professional bodies can I claim for?

HMRC does not allow tax relief to be claimed for all professional bodies, it depends if an agreement is in place between HMRC and each organisation. The new amalgamation of the ATL and NUT, the National Education Union, is on the government’s allowable bodies list.

If you pay membership into one (or more) of the following professional bodies you may be eligible for a tax refund:

Or unions:

Teacher Tax Rebate for books and journals

The criteria:

  • The cost of any books and journals are met by you
  • The cost is not reimbursed by your employer
  • The books or journals are purchased to use in lessons or for the preparation of lessons
  • The books or journals are not purchased for your own personal development
  • Receipts should be available – although sometimes an agreement can be made

How much can I claim?

The amount depends if you are a 20% or 40% taxpayer. The amount due back in each tax year will be either 20% or 40% of the cost depending on which tax bracket you fall into.

Teacher Tax Rebate for specialist clothing

The criteria:

  • You meet the cost of specialist clothing
  • You are not reimbursed for the cost of specialist clothing by your employer
  • The specialist clothing is clothing other than ordinary clothing for example football boots purchased by a P.E teacher
  • The clothing is a replacement of an initial purchase
  • The clothing is not an initial purchase. Only the cost of cleaning, repair or replacement is allowable

How much can I claim?

The amount depends if you are a 20% or 40% tax payer. The amount due back in each tax year will be either 20% or 40% of the cost depending on which tax bracket you fall into.

Teacher Tax Rebate for washing of clothing

The criteria:

  • You wear specialist clothing for work purposes
  • You meet the cost of washing specialist clothing
  • You are not reimbursed by your employer for the cost of laundering

How much can I claim?

You can claim a flat rate allowance of £60 per tax year for the laundering of specialist clothing. The amount you will receive will be tax relief on the £60 flat rate expense, which will total in the region of £12 per tax year if you pay tax in the 20% tax bracket.

Teacher Tax Rebate for equipment purchased for work

The criteria:

  • The cost is met solely by you
  • The equipment is not supplied by your employer
  • You are not reimbursed by your employer
  • You can demonstrate that the purchase was made not through personal choice but by contractual obligation in the performance of your duties

How much can be claimed?

The amount due back is dependent on which tax year the purchase was made and if a capital allowances claim has to be made for the purchase. A guideline would be 15% to 20% of the purchase total.

Teacher Tax Rebate for qualifying travelling expenses

The criteria:

  • The location travelled to is not a permanent place of employment
  • The location visited is a temporary place of employment which is visited whilst performing your duties away from your usual, permanent workplace. For example a PE co-ordinator of one school travelling to deliver teacher training at other schools.

Use your own vehicle?

The criteria:

  • If you use your own vehicle and you are not reimbursed the full mileage rate of 45p per mile up to 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter by your employer.
  • If you use your own vehicle and you are paid the full mileage rate by your employer, but the mileage paid is taxed.
  • You can provide qualifying travelling expense records which show the journeys (with dates if possible), along with any reimbursement made by your employer.

To find out how much business mileage tax rebate you can claim,
use the Free Business Mileage Calculator

Claim your teacher tax rebate

For further Tax Refund information, please follow the links below:

Tax Refunds by Employment

  • Healthcare Worker Tax Rebates includes:
    Can I Claim Tax Relief for Professional Fees?
    Can I Claim Tax Relief for the Cost of Shoes and Tights?
    What about Tax Relief for Laundry Costs?
    Can I claim Tax Relief for Business Mileage?
    Can I claim Tax Relief for Specialist Equipment?

  • Nurse Tax Refunds includes:
    Nurse Tax relief for the cost of laundering of Uniform
    Nurse Tax relief for the cost of shoes and tights
    Nurse Tax relief for professional fees – RCN Tax, Unison Tax, NMC Tax
    Nurse Tax Relief for use of own car or public transport for work purposes

  • Tax Relief for Washing of Uniform includes:
    Am I Eligible for Uniform Tax Relief for Washing Uniform?
    What am I actually claiming back?
    How much will I get from a Uniform Tax Relief claim?
    Can I claim for any other Tax Relief?
  • Mechanic Tax Claim Refunds includes:
    Tool Tax relief– What are Flat Rate Expenses?
    Tool Tax relief– What are Capital Allowances?
    What About Tax Relief for Specialist Clothing?

  • Tax Claim Refunds for Trades / Construction Industry Workers under PAYE includes:
    Can I claim Tax Relief for Business Mileage?
    Can I Claim Tax Relief for other using Public Transport?
    What about Accommodation and Subsistence?
    Tool Tax Refund: What are Flat Rate Expenses
    Tool Tax Refund – What are Capital Allowances?
    Can I Claim Tax Relief for Specialist Clothing?

  • Doctor Tax Refunds includes:
    Doctors Tax relief for professional fees
    Doctors tax relief for Professional Indemnity Insurance
    Doctor Tax Relief for business use of car
    Tools and equipment purchased for work use

  • Police Tax Refunds includes:
    Police Officers Tax Relief for the Cost Of Laundering Uniform
    Police Tax Relief for the cost of Police Federation Fees
    Police Tax Relief for Business use of own car or public transport for work purposes

  • Student Tax Refund includes:
    If I am a student can I claim a Student Tax Refund?
    What About if I work during the Summer?

Tax Refunds for Expenses

  • Business Mileage Tax Refunds includes:
    What is Business Mileage?
    What counts as a Temporary Workplace?
    What are the Business Mileage Rate Allowances?
    Travel Expenses – Can I claim any further Tax Relief?

  • Travel Expenses Tax Refunds includes:
    When can I claim tax relief (business mileage) for travel to a temporary workplace?
    When can I claim tax relief (business mileage) for travelling to work in different locations?
    If I use public transport can I claim tax relief for a travel card?
    When can I claim tax relief for Subsistence and accommodation?
    Do I need to use the cheapest transport or accommodation to claim tax relief?
    Travel Expenses – How much can I claim?

  • Subsistence Expenses Tax Refunds includes:
    What Is Subsistence?
    What Is A Temporary Workplace?
    Do I Need Records?
    My Employer Reimburses Me Can I Still Claim?

  • Tools for Work Use Tax Refunds includes:
    Tools Tax – When am I Eligible for Tax Relief on Tools, Equipment and Specialist Clothing?
    Tools Tax – What are Flat Rate Expenses?
    Tax relief for tools – What are Capital Allowances?
    What About Tax Relief for Specialist Clothing?

Tax Refunds for Tax Code

Tax Refunds for Left The UK

  • Left or Leaving the UK Tax Claim Refunds includes:
    When am I entitled to leaving the UK tax back?
    How much UK tax back can I receive?
    Do I need to complete Tax Claim Forms when leaving the UK?
    Do I need to complete a Self Assessment Tax Return?

  • UK Non Resident Tax Refunds includes:
    What is Non-Resident Status?
    What is a Double Taxation Agreement?
    What sort of UK Income is eligible for tax relief?
    How do I apply for UK Non-Resident Tax Relief?
    Do I need to Complete a Self Assessment Form?

  • UK Non Resident Landlords Tax Refunds includes:
    What is the UK Non Resident Landlord Scheme?
    What if the property is administered by Letting Agents?
    Can I claim Tax Relief for Property Expenses?
    How does the Non Resident Landlord Scheme affect my Tax payments?
    Do I need to complete a Self Assessment Tax Return?
    How does other income affect my tax allowance?

  • Seafarers Tax Refund includes:
    What is Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction?
    Who can claim SED?
    What information do I need?
    How do I claim?

CIS Tax Refunds

  • CIS Tax Refunds includes:
    What is a CIS Tax Refund?
    How do I get a CIS Tax Refund?
    What is the average CIS Tax Refund?
    Should I fill in my Tax Return myself or use an Accountant?
    CIS Tax Refunds – important to know

Other Tax Refunds

  • Car Tax Refund includes:
    Can I get a refund on my Car Tax/Vehicle Tax?

  • Council Tax Rebate includes:
    Can I claim a Council Tax rebate?

  • Gift Aid includes:
    What is Gift Aid?
    What kind of Donations Apply to Gift Aid?
    Gift Aid Claim Tax Refund!
    How Do I make a Gift Aid Claim?

  • NI Refund includes:
    For the Employed
    Missing National Insurance Years
    National Insurance Refund if you have left the UK
    Class 1 National Insurance and the State Pension Scheme
    National Insurance Refund for the Self Employed

  • VAT Refund includes:
    VAT Refund for Individuals
    VAT Refund if you live in the EU
    VAT Refund if you live outside the EU
    VAT Refund if you work or study in the UK but live outside the EU
    VAT Refund for Business

More Info

Tax Refunds

For more information please see:

Claim your teacher tax rebate