Advice on tax free allowance of up to £2500 for mileage, tools and PPE.

[Matthew Garside]

I am on the books at a firm as "transport provided" but very regularly use my own car with no mileage paid whatsoever, only single time rate after 15 miles one way. I also provide the majority of my own hand tools and power tools, as well as things like work pants.

I understand you can do a self assessment as a PAYE paying employee for tax relief for amounts under £2500, to cover the cost of mileage, maintenance, tool and clothing replacement, and can get your tax code changed as well as claiming tax back for up to 5 years?

Can anyone clarify this or offer any advice on the matter in general?

 

[Matthew Garside]

Re tax codes - many ways to skin the cat - I did one return and HMRC kindly suggested a code that minimised tax so that over the next year (with the same circumstances) I wasn't out of pocket.
Re mileage - understanding you don't have complete records, but since April 2016 what can you recall? Maybe you can recall trips to jobs, prompted by invoices, emails, calendar etc. It doesn't have to be a complete record, just accurate for what you claim. If one does get any allowance from employer this will need to be deducted. Hope that helps

Ah so they permanently changed your code based on that one year?

I was on the same job for the whole year so that aspect isnt a problem. I used my own car 2-3 times per week as well as travelling to a pick up point for the vans when spaces were available. I couldnt recall exact dates but I could hazard a "guess" I suppose?

 

[Midwest]

I'm not sure the taxman is into best guesses. If you going claim something you'll need to prove it. As suggested you might want to employ the services of an accountant. You can have a meeting with one, might only cost you a few quid or FOC as mine did for the first meeting. Find out what you believe is a goer or not.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

When I left employment and went self employed, I ended up having to submit 4 years worth of self assessment to claim for tools purchased.
I had intended to claim the tool purchases as start up costs, but was informed by HMRC that I would only be allowed second hand values.
Instead I requested back dated self assessment forms for the past 4 years and claimed the purchase costs.
Although I had all the receipts for the tools, I was never asked to provide them.
Since being self employed, I claim travel, subsistence and laundry, amongst other expenses, most of which I am unable to provide receipts for.
For travel, I use the HMRC mileage rates, or the actual tube fare.
I use google maps or Microsoft Autoroute to work out travel mileage.
Am unable to provide receipts for the tube fare, for the period when I had an Oyster card, and now can only provide bank statements.
For subsistence, I use the HMRC daily rate.
For laundry, I use the actual cost of a service wash, but am unable to provide receipts, as the ticket stub is handed over to get the washing.