Martin Lewis’ MSE warns anyone who wears a uniform to work to claim back cash – and you could be owed hundreds of pounds

MARTIN Lewis' MoneySavingExpert has urged workers to claim back cash if they usually wear uniform.

Whether it's a branded t-shirt or scrubs, you could be owed hundreds of pounds in tax money.

As petrol prices refuse to budge, food bills are through the roof and the energy cap takes its toll soon, people are scrambling for ways to save money.

But worry not - is claiming you can get hundreds back for up to five years' uniform expenses.

How much you're owed depends on your profession - ambulance staff have specialist clothing, for instance, so they'll be entitled to more than a retail employee.

If it costs more to maintain your uniform, you'll get more tax back.

How does it work?

The standard flat-rate price allowance for having a uniform is £60. If you claim a uniform tax refund, you'll get back the amount of tax you would've paid for that £60.

If you're a basic-rate taxpayer, you'll get £12 back per year, because that's 20% of £60.

Higher-rate taxpayers will get back £24.

But because the £60 is a flat-rate allowance, you won't be required to record and send in the individual amounts you spend.

You can also backdate your claim by up to four tax years as well as the current year. If you were a basic tax payer who wore uniform during those years, this is what you could claim:

• 2022/23 – £12
• 2021/22 – £12
• 2020/21 – £12
• 2019/20 – £12
• 2018/19 – £12

You'll need to claim this before the next tax year begins on 5 April 2023 or risk losing out.

Of course, some occupations require more wear and tear, like ambulance staff. Their maximum annual allowance for uniform is £185.

That means basic-rate tax payers would get £37 back each year they claimed, or £74 if they're higher-rate.