Tax Relief On Subscriptions

If you are employed, you are entitled to claim a deduction for costs you have incurred that relate “wholly, exclusively and necessarily” to your employment which have not been reimbursed by your employer.

Annual subscriptions paid to professional bodies will be allowable provided it is paid to body approved by the HMRC and the activities of the body directly benefit, or concern the profession practised in, the employee in the performance of their duties of employment.

HM Revenue & Customs publish a list of the approved bodies to which they allow tax relief for annual subscriptions ( search for list 3 on the www.hmrc.gov.uk website) paid by taxpayers. The Royal College of Nursing is on the list, together with a number of other bodies relating to your profession, so if you have not been reimbursed in full by your employer you should speak to your local TaxAssist accountant to discuss the submission of a claim. You are also entitled to make a claim for the previous 6 years tax years if these have not been reimbursed either.

In addition to tax relief on your annual subscriptions, you and your colleagues may also be entitled to claim tax relief on expenses of maintaining and laundering equipment and uniforms that is necessary to carry out the duties of your employment. The HMRC have agreed flat rate amount for specific categories of workers such as you and these are also available on the www.hmrc.gov.uk website.

Date published 5 Dec 2012

This article is intended to inform rather than advise and is based on legislation and practice at the time. Taxpayer’s circumstances do vary and if you feel that the information provided is beneficial it is important that you contact us before implementation. If you take, or do not take action as a result of reading this article, before receiving our written endorsement, we will accept no responsibility for any financial loss incurred.