Wash Your Own Work Uniform? You Could Claim Tax Back From HMRC

If you wear a uniform or protective kit for work and wash it yourself, there’s a decent chance HMRC owes you a little money. It’s called tax relief for uniforms, work clothing and tools, it’s been around for years, and loads of people have never claimed it.

Told straight up front: it won’t make you rich. For most people it’s around £12 a year. But you can backdate it, it takes minutes, and you don’t need to pay a claims company to do it for you.

Who can claim

According to GOV.UK, you may be able to claim tax relief for the cost of:

• cleaning, repairing or replacing a uniform, meaning clothing that identifies your job, like a nurse’s or police officer’s uniform
• specialist clothing you need for work even if it doesn’t show your job, such as overalls or safety boots
• repairing or replacing small tools you need for your job, like scissors or a drill

You must be an employee paying tax, and your employer mustn’t already be paying those costs.

Who can’t

GOV.UK is clear that you can’t claim for:

• the cost of buying the clothing in the first place
• everyday clothes you wear to work, even if your employer insists on a colour or style (black trousers and a white shirt don’t count)
• washing your uniform at home if your employer offers a free laundry service and you just choose not to use it
• PPE, which your employer should provide or pay for

How much you’ll get back

You can claim either the actual amount you spent (with receipts) or a flat rate expense, a fixed amount HMRC has agreed for your job.

If your job isn’t on HMRC’s list, the standard flat rate is £60 a year. Some jobs get more. For example, uniformed prison officers can claim £80, many agricultural and quarrying workers £100, and police officers up to and including chief inspector £140 (GOV.UK flat rate list).

Here’s the bit people get wrong. That £60 isn’t what you get paid. It’s the amount taken off your taxable income. So:

• a basic-rate (20%) taxpayer claiming £60 pays £12 less tax a year
• a higher-rate (40%) taxpayer would pay £24 less (our sum: 40% of £60)

GOV.UK uses the £60 and £12 example itself. Scottish taxpayers have different rates, so their figure will differ slightly.

The backdating bit

You can claim for the current tax year and the four previous tax years. In the 2026 to 2027 tax year, that means going back to 2022 to 2023. At £12 a year, five years comes to about £60. Not life-changing, but it’s money you were entitled to, and after that the relief usually keeps coming through your tax code.

How to claim (free)

1. Check your job

Use HMRC’s online checker, linked from the GOV.UK uniforms page, or scan the flat rate list for your industry.

2. Claim online

If you’re claiming the flat rate, choose “Uniform, work clothing and tools” in the online service. You don’t need receipts. If you’re claiming more than the flat rate, claim it as “Other expenses” and send evidence of what you paid.

3. Self Assessment? Use your return

If you fill in a Self Assessment tax return, you must claim through that instead.

4. Ignore the claims companies

Some firms will do this for you and take a cut. HMRC says agents always charge, in some cases up to 50% of the claim, and that over 70% of people who claimed work expenses in 2021 to 2022 missed out on part of their money by using an agent (GOV.UK). You’re also still responsible if an agent makes a wrong claim for you (HMRC: Don’t get caught out). And if you’re contacted out of the blue about a “tax refund”, be careful: HMRC has guidance on spotting scam emails, calls and texts.

Told straight

If you wash your own uniform or safety gear and your employer doesn’t cover it, check GOV.UK. It’s around £12 a year for most basic-rate taxpayers, backdatable four years, and HMRC says claiming online takes about 15 minutes. Do it yourself and keep the whole lot.

Sources checked November 2026 on GOV.UK. Tax rules can change, so check the official pages before you claim.