Can I claim for this

[Kimmy050983]

I am fed up with ruining my tops with paint and mud etc so have bought some plain T-Shirts in asda which I will only be using for childminding. Can I claim for these?

Thank you

[BuggsieMoo]

Yep - I had some t-shirts printed as I hated having mine ruined as well and these went through the books. If I wasnt working in the job, I wouldnt have them x

[Kimmy050983]

Thank you that's fab! Will get some pants to go with it as all my nice jeans have got wholes on the knees from kneeling down constantly

p.s. made sure to get lots of different colours as don't want it to look like a uniform

[sillybeans]

Hmmm... sure someone will correct me if I am wrong but I don't think clothing is an allowable expense, even if we get them and have our logo printed on them (therefore obviously work related)

Can't remembeer the reason why but sure someone with more experience will come along and confirm one way or the other

[Chatterbox Childcare]

Not allowable unless embroidered or screen printed with name

You could get some tabards and claim them though

[kimlouise25]

I thought you could claim for clothing. I brought a rain coat for those school runs when it doesn't stop raining. Also brought t-shirts that were printed with my name etc on them. Put them through my books as advertising my business.
Hope that helps.

[CH1957]

You can only claim for clothing if it has your company name or logo printed on it - HMRC are very clear about not putting through 'normal' clothing, you cant just handwrite your name on the inside like someone suggested.

[Kimmy050983]

Ok , I won't claim them then
Thanks.

[madmamma]

even if it is just hand written on them, even on the inside!

They are then claimable as a legitimate business expense.

I wish!

[madmamma]

I thought you could claim for clothing. I brought a rain coat for those school runs when it doesn't stop raining. Also brought t-shirts that were printed with my name etc on them. Put them through my books as advertising my business.
Hope that helps.

Surely you would need a coat as protection from wind and rain anyway?!

[Kimmy050983]

I definitelty wouldn't have bought those tops and rainpants and raincoat it wouldn't be for my job!! But I rarely claim anything to be honest - but wasn't sure on this.

[Chatterbox Childcare]

That's not entirely correct, the items just have to have your company/your name on them somewhere, even if it is just hand written on them, even on the inside!

They are then claimable as a legitimate business expense.

Sorry disagree and this was from an inspector - it has to be visible or it will be disallowed

As always we get conflicting information so to get the exact info from the horses mouth why don't you call the HRMC?

[Chatterbox Childcare]

I definitelty wouldn't have bought those tops and rainpants and raincoat it wouldn't be for my job!! But I rarely claim anything to be honest - but wasn't sure on this.

The argument would be that you need weather protection anyway and this is not just a business expense

[dette]

We had a recent childminder chatshop where a lady from the tax office told us we could not claim for ANY clothing ,if we had clothing with logos on we could claim for ONLY the cost of the logo NOT the clothing.
reason being that everyone ,no matter what job we do need to wear clothes otherwise everyone would have "work bra's and knickers" and "work socks" etc
otherwise we could wear designer jeans with company logo on pocket so i can see the reasoning behind it .

[Chatterbox Childcare]

Laugh all you like! - I love how one person makes a statement and then you all decide she is correct - you're like little lost sheep on here!

Write your company name on your work clothes and you can claim it as expenses - Then get yourself a decent accountant!

No need to be rude ):

I disagree with your opinion and that is just what it is - we are all free to ask and answer questions and it is up to the reader to decide what they want to believe

Best advice on here is to ring the HMRC and see what they say.

In my 19 years experience I find that what one "professional" says another disagrees with and this includes accountants and the HMRC.

[madmamma]

Laugh all you like! - I love how one person makes a statement and then you all decide she is correct - you're like little lost sheep on here!

Write your company name on your work clothes and you can claim it as expenses - Then get yourself a decent accountant!

Sorry, I don't see anyone actually agreeing with you on this issue

If you bother to read HMRC guidelines, there are two that you (and an accountant) can follow:
HMRC's, which states:
As a general rule an employee can't get tax relief for the cost of clothing they wear to work - but there are some exceptions. For example, if you work in a sector like the building trade or the metal working industry you'll have to wear protective clothing like:
overalls
gloves
boots
helmets
If you must pay for the cost of repairing, cleaning or replacing this type of specialist clothing yourself and your employer doesn't reimburse you, then you are entitled to tax relief. However, you cannot claim for the initial cost of buying this clothing.

Or the arrangement set up with HMRC and the NCMA

Neither of which allow the cost of BUYING workwear, however, the cost of having the workwear logo'd, as stated by CH1957 can be claimed, as well as the cost of CLEANING said workwear.

If anyone, including accountants, aren't absolutely sure they can always, and should do so, call the HMRC and double check any information they receive, either from a forum, a friend, or even an accountant.

A lot of the guidance IS subject to an individuals personal interpretation, (think Politicians expenses scandal, the recent Jimmy Carr revelation) however, as far as HMRC are concerned, ignorance is no excuse, if in doubt, check, and if your interpretation isn't the same as HMRC's then it is YOU that pays the consequences, NOT the accountant.

Have a lovely day ladies

[Smiley]

I would say yes if they are just for childminding as it would be an expense you wouldn't otherwise have

[MrAnchovy]

Sorry, I don't see anyone actually agreeing with you on this issue

If you bother to read HMRC guidelines, there are two that you (and an accountant) can follow:
HMRC's, which states:
As a general rule an employee can't get tax relief for the cost of clothing they wear to work - but there are some exceptions. For example, if you work in a sector like the building trade or the metal working industry you'll have to wear protective clothing like:
overalls
gloves
boots
helmets
If you must pay for the cost of repairing, cleaning or replacing this type of specialist clothing yourself and your employer doesn't reimburse you, then you are entitled to tax relief. However, you cannot claim for the initial cost of buying this clothing.

Unfortunately these are the wrong guidelines - these are for employees.

As a self employed person you are entitled to claim the cost of UNIFORM as these guidelines state. What constitutes uniform is a grey area: case law suggests that a prominent embroidered or screen-printed logo works but writing your name on the inside of a garment doesn't.

You will not always get a correct answer from individual HMRC staff. Even if the answer they give is correct, there is often an alternative answer that is also correct that results in you paying less tax.

[madmamma]

Unfortunately these are the wrong guidelines - these are for employees.

Ooopsie lesson to self, practice what you preach

If you bother to read HMRC guidelines

However, glad you clarified

case law suggests that a prominent embroidered or screen-printed logo works but writing your name on the inside of a garment doesn't.

[Bridey]

Laugh all you like! - I love how one person makes a statement and then you all decide she is correct - you're like little lost sheep on here!

Write your company name on your work clothes and you can claim it as expenses - Then get yourself a decent accountant!

We've got one - he's called MrAnchovy