Tax Deductions & Tax Relief

What is tax relief? 

Tax relief can reduce the amount of Income Tax you have to pay. In some cases, it allows certain expenses or payments to reduce your taxable income; in others, it gives relief based on the rate of tax you pay. 

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For employees, you may be able to claim tax relief on some expenses if: 

• you paid for them yourself; 

• they were necessary for your job; 

• they were used only for work; and 

• your employer did not fully reimburse you. 

 

Examples can include certain: 

• uniforms, specialist clothing and tools; 

• professional fees and subscriptions; 

• business travel and overnight expenses; 

• equipment needed for work. 

 

You cannot normally claim tax relief for ordinary commuting between your home and your permanent workplace. (GOV.UK) 

 

How much do you get back? 

Tax relief is not necessarily a refund of the full cost. 

 

For example, if an eligible expense is £60 and you pay Income Tax at 20%, the relief would normally be £12. 

 

For 2026–27, employees can no longer claim the previous working-from-home tax relief for the current tax year, although claims for qualifying earlier years may still be possible. (GOV.UK) 

 

Key takeaway 

Tax relief can reduce your tax bill, but only certain expenses qualify. Always check HMRC rules before claiming.