What nurses can claim
Set out in HMRC's own rules. Nothing vague.
NMC registrationThe full £120 a year, every year you paid it yourself.£96 tax back over 4 years
Washing your uniformHMRC flat rate of £125 a year if you launder it yourself. No receipts.£100 tax back over 4 years
RCN or UNISON subsOnly bodies on HMRC's approved list count. RCN is allowed in full and UNISON's healthcare sector at 70%. Unite and GMB are not on the list.Usually £30 to £60 a year back
Mileage in your own carBetween clients, sites or bases, not the normal commute. 55p a mile from April 2026 (45p before) less anything your employer pays.Community nurses often claim over £500 a year
Shoes and tightsHMRC allows £12 for shoes and £6 for tights each year where the uniform requires them.£14 tax back over 4 yearsJoanna, band 6 nurse, hospital based
NMC £120, RCN £204.85, uniform flat rate £125, shoes and tights £18. About £468 of relief a year, £94 back at 20%.
Figures are illustrative at the basic rate. Your real figure comes from your HMRC record, and you approve it before anything is filed.
How it works
Answer a few questions
60 seconds. Job, income, past claims, contact details. No documents yet.
Connect HMRC and prove it's you
Link your Government Gateway and pass a 5-minute identity check in the app.
Approve your estimate
Your specialist works out what you're owed. One tap to approve and it goes to HMRC.
HMRC pays, we pay you
Fee deducted, the rest lands in your bank, usually the next working day.
“Matt dealt with everything for me and kept me updated the whole time, was paid within a week”
Peter VerifiedNurse questions
How much does it cost?
37.5% plus VAT of the refund, minimum £45 plus VAT. No refund, no fee. Nothing upfront. Full fee page.
The NHS washes my uniform.
Then the laundry flat rate does not apply, but NMC, union subs, shoes, tights and mileage still do.
I am a higher-rate taxpayer.
You get 40% back rather than 20%, so the same reliefs are worth twice as much.
Does this affect my tax code?
HMRC usually adjusts your code going forward so you get the relief automatically in future years.