As part of Talk Money Week, 6-10 November, HMRC have reminded customers about their services available online and in the HMRC app that can help boost and manage your finances.
For example, where money can be claimed back, it’s free to claim directly through HMRC’s online services and is the only way to guarantee receiving 100% of the repayment.
The HMRC app and online services can help in the following ways:
- Claim money back on work expenses.
- Claim and manage Child Benefit.
- Claim a tax refund.
- Claim Marriage Allowance.
The HMRC app allows you to check and manage your finances – here’s how to download it.
Support for employees – claim tax relief on employee expenses
You may be able to claim tax refunds on work-related expenses and can make a claim online via GOV.UK which takes minutes and guarantees that you get 100% of the money back, if eligible.
Use the online claim service to check eligibility and a full list of work expenses, including:
- uniforms and work clothing
- buying work-related equipment
- professional fees, union memberships, and subscriptions
- using your own vehicle for work travel (excluding journey from home to work)
Support if you’ve paid too much tax – claim a tax refund
If you have paid too much tax, you can claim a refund through the HMRC app. This is the quickest way to claim your tax refund and HMRC will pay the refund straight into your bank account.
To claim your tax refund, select the ‘Pay As You Earn (PAYE)’ section in the HMRC app. If you’re due money back, you’ll see a green button on the page to claim your refund and the amount owed. Select this button to begin your claim.
Support for families – claim and manage Child Benefit
If you are responsible for children, you can claim as much as £1,248 a year in Child Benefit for the first child and could also receive nearly £827 a year for any other children you have.
Parents can claim and manage their Child Benefit online, and could get their first payment in as little as 3 working days.
You can also use the HMRC app to view recent payments, get proof of entitlement and update your bank details. This will all help to ensure you don’t miss out on any payments.
You should still apply if you or your partner’s income is over £50,000 a year. You may have heard of the High Income Child Benefit Charge, but this shouldn’t put you off. By claiming, you can get National Insurance credits towards a State Pension. You can opt out of payments, when you claim or receive them and pay the charge.
Support for couples married or in civil partnerships – claim Marriage Allowance
Married couples and those in civil partnerships can share their personal allowances, if one partner has an income under their Personal Allowance threshold – which is usually £12,570 – and the higher earning partner’s income is between £12,571 and £50,270 (£43,662 in Scotland).
This allows couples to transfer £1,260 of the lower earners personal allowance to their husband, wife, or civil partner, and reduces their tax by up to £252 a year.
Couples can apply any time and backdate their claims for any of the previous tax years since 2019, if eligible. It’s free to complete a Marriage Allowance application online to receive 100% of the tax relief they’re eligible for.
This information is from HMRC – please feel free to contact our Tax team if you have any tax-related queries on 01242 776000 or tax@randall-payne.co.uk.