What you can claim
If you pay for work-related costs out of your own pocket and your employer doesn't reimburse them, you may be entitled to tax relief. Here are the most common claims for teachers and school staff.
Union & professional subscriptions
Tax relief is available on fees paid to HMRC-approved bodies such as NEU, NASUWT, NAHT and ASCL. This is the most common — and often the most valuable — teacher claim.
Specialist clothing & PE kit
Sports kit, protective clothing and specialist items you buy for work — plus the cost of washing and maintaining them where you meet HMRC's conditions.
Business mileage
Travel between different school sites or to temporary workplaces (not your normal commute) may qualify for mileage tax relief.
Working from home
Where you're required to work from home for lesson planning, marking or remote teaching, you may be able to claim the household-costs allowance.
Books, equipment & resources
Classroom materials, books and small equipment you buy yourself and that your school doesn't reimburse.
Professional registration fees
Statutory or professional registration fees required to do your job and paid to approved organisations.
Backdate up to four tax years
HMRC lets you claim for the current tax year plus the four previous ones. If you've never claimed before, a single backdated claim can cover several years at once — which is why first-time claims are often the largest. Our 4-Year Backdated Review is designed for exactly this.