What teachers can claim
What HMRC allows for this work. Your specialist checks which apply to you.
Union subscriptionsNEU in full, NASUWT and NAHT at two-thirds, and other unions on HMRC's approved list at the approved proportion.Usually £40 to £70 a year back
Professional registrationFees to a body you must belong to for the role, for example the Education Workforce Council in Wales.Full amount
Washing your uniformHMRC flat rate of £60 a year if you launder it yourself. No receipts.PE and games teachers who launder their own kit
Books and equipmentItems you had to buy for the job and were not repaid: books, specialist equipment and software.Actual cost with statements
Priya, secondary PE teacher, NEU member
NEU £190 in full and PE kit laundering flat rate £60. About £50 tax back a year at the basic rate, more at 40%.
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.
“Alex made it easy for me. I really do appreciate that”
Tokunbo VerifiedTeacher 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.
Can I claim for marking at home?
Only if your contract requires you to work from home and there is no space at school. Most teachers cannot, but union subs and kit still count.
Books and resources I bought for lessons?
Yes, where they were necessary for the job and the school did not reimburse you. Keep the receipts or order history.
I am a higher-rate taxpayer.
Then every relief on this page is worth 40% back rather than 20%.