Tax Rebates for Teachers: What You Can Claim Back

Teachers spend a lot of their own money on their profession, from union subscriptions to specialist clothing and resources, yet most never claim the tax relief they are entitled to. If you are a teacher or teaching assistant, there is a good chance HMRC owes you money, and you can usually claim back several years at once. This guide explains what teachers can claim and how.

Why teachers are often owed a rebate

Like other employees, teachers pay for work related costs out of taxed income, and HMRC lets you claim tax relief on many of them. But it does not refund them automatically, you have to claim. Because the costs recur every year and you can backdate a claim by four tax years, the combined relief is often more than teachers expect.

What teachers can claim

Professional fees and union subscriptions

This is the big one for teachers. Subscriptions to approved teaching unions and professional bodies that are relevant to your role usually qualify for tax relief. If you pay an annual membership fee yourself and your employer does not reimburse it, it is well worth claiming. See our guide to professional fees and union subscriptions.

Specialist clothing

If you have to buy and maintain specialist clothing or protective gear, for example PE kit for sports teaching or protective clothing for science, design or technology, you may be able to claim tax relief on the upkeep. Everyday clothes do not qualify, but genuine specialist or protective clothing can. See our uniform tax rebate guide.

Working from home

If part of your role requires you to work from home, such as marking and lesson planning where your school does not provide the space, you may qualify for working from home tax relief.

Other costs

Depending on your situation, mileage between school sites (not your normal commute) and certain other necessary costs may also be claimable.

How much could a teacher claim?

You receive tax relief at your tax rate, so 20 percent for a basic rate taxpayer and 40 percent for a higher rate taxpayer. The exact figure depends on your fees and costs, but claimed across the current year plus four previous years, the total can be well worth having, especially when union fees and clothing upkeep are combined.

How far back can I claim?

You can claim for the current tax year and the four years before it. Each 5 April the oldest year drops off, so claiming sooner protects an extra year of relief.

How to claim your teacher tax rebate

You can claim directly from HMRC online or on form P87, or let TaxPro handle it. We confirm which of your subscriptions and costs qualify, claim every eligible year, and deal with HMRC for you. We work on a no win, no fee basis, so a percentage fee only applies once your refund is secured.

Frequently asked questions

Can teachers claim tax back on union fees?

Where the union or professional body is approved and the membership is relevant to your job, and you pay it yourself, the fees usually qualify for tax relief.

Can I claim for clothing?

Only for genuine specialist or protective clothing that you maintain yourself, not everyday clothes.

I am a teaching assistant. Can I claim too?

Yes. The same reliefs apply if you are an employee paying eligible costs yourself.

How long does it take?

Once submitted, refunds usually come through in around 10 days, with the whole process often taking 8 to 10 weeks.

Teachers, claim what you are owed

If you pay union fees or maintain specialist clothing for teaching, there is a strong chance HMRC owes you, across several years.

Start your claim with TaxPro and we will pull together everything you are entitled to, on a no win, no fee basis.

Related: browse all our tax rebates by job to find your trade.