Tax Relief For Washing Uniform: How Much Can You Claim?

Written by Al Baker | Founder & Editor, The Penny Pincher - Last updated: the 9th of November 2026

If washing your work uniform is another job you bring home after a shift, you may be able to claim tax relief for the cost. The standard £60 annual expense allowance gives a £12 saving if the full amount qualifies for relief at 20%, rather than a £60 refund each year. You can claim directly through HMRC for free, and eligible claims can cover the current tax year plus the previous four years.

This is often called a uniform tax rebate, although the money may come through paying less tax on your wages rather than receiving a separate refund. HM Revenue & Customs, usually known as HMRC, handles the claim, so you don't need a refund company to apply for you. What you can receive depends on your job, the costs you meet yourself and the Income Tax you've paid, with some occupations entitled to a higher allowance.

Who can claim tax relief for washing a uniform?

You may qualify if you're an employee required to wear a qualifying uniform or specialist clothing and you pay the cleaning or maintenance costs yourself. Washing it at home can count, so you don't have to use a paid laundry service. You must have paid Income Tax for the year concerned, because the relief can't exceed the tax you paid.

If your employer covers all the relevant costs, you can't claim those costs again from HMRC. Where it pays towards them, deduct that contribution from the amount you're claiming. You also can't claim home laundry costs if your employer offers a free laundering service and you choose to wash the uniform yourself instead.

This guide covers employees, including people whose tax is deducted from their wages through Pay As You Earn, or PAYE. If you work for yourself, there are different rules for self-employed expenses. Those rules can cover uniforms and protective clothing, but everyday clothes don't become an allowable expense simply because you wear them for work.

What counts as a work uniform?

A uniform should identify you as doing a particular job, such as a nurse or police officer. A supermarket or restaurant top with a permanent, clearly visible company logo may also qualify, depending on whether someone would recognise it as a uniform. A detachable name badge on an ordinary shirt doesn't automatically make that shirt a uniform.

Ordinary clothing doesn't qualify just because your employer tells everyone to wear it. For example, being asked to wear black trousers and a white shirt isn't enough on its own, even if you only wear those clothes at work. What matters is whether the clothing meets HMRC's definition of a uniform and whether you bear qualifying costs, rather than simply whether your employer supplied it.

Specialist clothing needed for your job may also qualify for cleaning, repair or replacement relief. HMRC's employee guidance excludes the initial cost of buying work clothing, so don't assume this allowance pays back the cost of a new work wardrobe. Personal protective equipment, or PPE, has separate treatment: your employer should provide required PPE free or reimburse you, and you can't claim employee tax relief for it.

How much tax relief can you get for washing your uniform?

The standard flat-rate allowance is £60 a year where your job and industry don't have a different agreed amount, and you meet the eligibility rules. “Flat rate” means you use an agreed expense figure instead of adding up each qualifying cost. You don't need laundry receipts or a record of every wash to claim that allowance.

The £60 is the amount you get tax relief on, so it doesn't mean a £60 payment into your bank account every year. If the whole allowance attracts relief at 20%, you save £12; at 40%, you save £24. Your own savings depend on the applicable tax rate, including whether you pay Scottish Income Tax, and how much tax you've paid so that these examples won't fit everyone.

Examples of allowances and actual tax savings

The table shows selected figures from HMRC's list of flat-rate expenses by occupation. These are annual allowances for qualifying work expenses, not cash payouts, and some occupational amounts cover more than laundry. Check your exact job description and deduct any employer contribution before using a figure.

What about an NHS uniform tax rebate?

Nurses, midwives and several other health and care roles have a £125 annual allowance, which produces a £25 saving at 20%. The list also includes roles such as healthcare assistants, dental nurses and domiciliary care workers, and covers specified private and independent care employers as well as the NHS. Other roles have different amounts, so working for the NHS doesn't automatically mean everyone gets £125.

There are also specific allowances for qualifying nurses and related roles of £12 for repairing or replacing shoes where a prescribed style is compulsory, and £6 for stockings, tights or socks where a prescribed style or colour is compulsory and you meet the costs. These are additional expense allowances, not £12 and £6 refunds. Together, an eligible £18 claim saves £3.60 at 20%; it isn't a general allowance for buying underwear.

Can I claim my actual costs instead?

You can claim qualifying actual expenses instead of the agreed flat rate, but you'll need receipts or other evidence showing what you paid. HMRC's current service directs actual-cost claims to “Other expenses”, while flat-rate claims go under “Uniform, work clothing and tools”. Don't claim the flat rate and the same costs again as separate expenses.

How far back can I claim a uniform tax refund?

You can claim for the current tax year and the four previous tax years, provided you qualify for each one and haven't already received the relief. In the 2026/27 tax year, that means going back to 2022/23. Under HMRC's four-year claim limit, the oldest year drops out of the normal window after the 5th of April 2027, so HMRC must receive a claim for 2022/23 by that date.

The example below shows the potential saving for someone entitled to the standard £60 allowance, with enough tax paid at 20% in every year. It assumes no employer contribution and no relief already given. The total covers five years of tax relief, rather than promising a single payment of the full amount.

How do you claim tax relief for washing your uniform?

Start with HMRC's official uniform tax relief service, which checks eligibility and takes you to the appropriate claim route. For a flat-rate claim, choose “Uniform, work clothing and tools” and follow the questions about your job and expenses. Check each tax year carefully, especially if you've changed jobs or your employer's laundry arrangements have changed.

Have your National Insurance number, personal details, occupation and industry ready, along with the years you're claiming for. You'll also need the relevant employer's details and PAYE reference, which identifies their payroll scheme and can usually be found on a P60 or P45. If you've already claimed before, check your tax-code information first so you don't request relief you've already received.

If you'd rather apply by post, download the latest P87 form and postal claim instructions. Complete and sign the form, include any required evidence, and send it to the address printed on it. Flat-rate uniform claims don't require receipts, but actual-cost claims do need evidence.

If you already complete a Self Assessment tax return, claim through that return instead. You must also use Self Assessment if your total employment expenses claim exceeds £2,500 for a tax year. That threshold refers to the expenses you're claiming relief on, not the refund you expect to receive.

How will HMRC pay the tax relief?

For the current tax year, HMRC usually adjusts your tax code, so less Income Tax comes out of your pay. Your tax code tells your employer how to calculate that deduction, so an adjustment can increase your take-home pay without changing your salary. For earlier years, HMRC can either change your tax code or issue a tax refund, depending on how it deals with your claim.

The allowance may also be carried forward in your tax code, so you might not need to apply again every year. Check that the amount is right and tell HMRC if you stop qualifying, for example because you leave the job or your employer starts covering the costs. Our Tax & HMRC guides cover other tax questions and letters you might need help understanding.

Do I need to pay a company to claim?

You can apply directly to HMRC for free, without handing over part of the refund to an agent. HMRC's guidance on expense claims explains that you're still responsible for the accuracy of a claim made on your behalf. Before signing up to a refund service, compare its fees with what you're actually likely to get back, because a charge can take a large chunk of a small rebate.

For someone on the standard allowance paying tax at 20%, £12 a year might not sound like much, but several eligible years can add up. Find your job on HMRC's list and look at your tax-code information to see whether you're already receiving the relief, then use the official claim route for any eligible years you've missed. If 2022/23 is one of them, make sure your claim reaches HMRC by the 5th of April 2027.

This article provides general information rather than personal financial advice. Eligibility and the amount of relief depend on your own circumstances. Use the linked HMRC guidance for your claim and contact HMRC if you're unsure how it applies to you.

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim tax back for washing my work uniform at home?

Yes, you may qualify if you pay to wash a required uniform or qualifying specialist clothing and you've paid Income Tax for the year concerned. You can't claim costs your employer has fully covered, or home laundry costs if it offers a free laundering service that you choose not to use.

Does the £60 uniform allowance mean I get £60 back?

No. The standard £60 allowance saves £12 if the full amount attracts tax relief at 20%, or £24 at 40%, subject to your circumstances and enough tax being paid.

Do I need receipts for a uniform tax rebate?

You don't need receipts for an eligible flat-rate uniform claim. If you claim actual expenses instead, you must supply receipts or other evidence showing what you paid.

How far back can I claim a uniform tax refund?

In 2026/27, you can claim for the current tax year and the four previous years, back to 2022/23, if you qualify and haven't already received the relief. HMRC must receive a claim for 2022/23 by 5th April 2027.

How much is the NHS uniform tax rebate?

It depends on your role, qualifying costs and tax position. Nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and several other listed health and care roles have a £125 annual allowance, worth £25 if the full amount attracts tax relief at 20%; other NHS roles can have different allowances.

Can I claim for ordinary clothes I have to wear to work?

Everyday clothes don't qualify just because your employer requires a particular colour or style. Recognisable uniforms and qualifying specialist clothing have different rules, while required PPE should be provided free or reimbursed by your employer.

Do I have to claim uniform tax relief every year?

Not necessarily, because HMRC may carry the allowance forward in your tax code. Check that it's still correct and tell HMRC if your circumstances change so you don't continue receiving relief you no longer qualify for.