Just 10% claim remote work expenses
by Mark Corcoran
 
You will need to be able to account for each expense by providing bills and receipts, plus a letter from your employer that states that you work from home.
You will need to be able to account for each expense by providing bills and receipts, plus a letter from your employer that states that you work from home.

New figures issued from the Revenue Commissions indicate that only 10% of people filed a tax return containing a remote working claim this year. This despite the fact that staff who work remotely can claim tax relief if their employer does not pay them a remote working allowance.

 

Workers can claim 10% tax relief on the cost of heat, electricity, and 30% of broadband costs, used when they’re working remotely. The recent budget increase the credit for heating and electricity to 30% from next year.

 

The Citizens’ Information service has an easy-to-understand guide to what you can claim. 

 

Fórsa has urged members who regularly work from home to claim their tax relief online by logging into Revenue's ‘my account’ service and clicking on the 'review your tax' link in PAYE services.

 

In the 'tax credits and reliefs' page, you should then select the 'your job' tab and follow the link to 'remote working expenses' and insert the amount you want to claim.

 

You will need to be able to account for each expense by providing bills and receipts, plus a letter from your employer that states that you work from home.

 

Fórsa welcomed the decision to increase the rate of relief on heating and electricity bills, but said that costs associated with remote working remained under discussion in talks on a long-term framework for 'blended working' in the public service.

 

The union's general secretary, Kevin Callinan suggested that a successful outcome to these discussions would be far more beneficial than the Budget measures in terms of realising the Government's January 2021 Remote Working Strategy. The strategy pledged to make remote working the norm for 20% of public sector staff.

 

It’s never been more important – or easier – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact us HERE. 

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