Martin Lewis issues warning to anyone who wears a uniform to work

You could be entitled to money back if you wear a uniform to work, Martin Lewis has warned.

The finance legend, who founded Money Saving Expert, explained the details around the issue on The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on Tuesday night (13 March).

Taking to ITV and ITVX, Lewis offered another hour of TV gold for those looking to save their pennies in any which way they can.

One big saving he highlighted was on broadband prices being hiked, with one of his viewers getting in touch to say they'd saved more than £600 a year by following Lewis' tips on the issue.

He also explained what the situation is with the 2% National Insurance tax cut that is coming in to effect from 1 April, detailing how much money you would get depending on your income.

On top of these two important topics that took up large chunks of the show, Lewis gave some tips on 'quickies' that could very easily land you some cash back in your wallet.

One was about your tax code and making sure it was right, give it is very much not for millions of people working across the United Kingdom.

Long story short on that one: if you're overpaying, you can claim the overpayments back.

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He said on the show: "It is not HMRC's or your employer's responsibility to make sure this is correct, this is your responsibility.

"If you're overpaying you are due the money back."

But the other 'quickie' was about the issue of uniforms.

Lewis said: "Do you wear a recognisable uniform to work? If so you can claim tax back if you wash or repair it yourself. Even if it's just a branded T-shirt.

"The minimum allowance you get is £60 a year and in some categories you get more. So that's a £12 a year gain at 20% tax or £24 at a higher tax.

"There's no need to pay anyone to do this, it's easy via a P87 form on Gov.uk but you need to go quick for 2019/20."

Are you eligible?

The Money Saving Expert website says the following four must apply to claim the cash:

• You wear a recognisable uniform that shows you've got a certain job, such as a branded T-shirt, nurse or police uniform.
• Your employer requires you to wear it while you're working. This means you have no other option but to buy it. You can still claim the whole year's relief even if you only had to wear the uniform on one day of that year.
• You're made to purchase, clean, repair or replace it yourself. But you can't claim if your employer washes your kit, provides facilities to do so (even if you don't use them) or pays you for doing this maintenance.
• You paid income tax in the year you are claiming for. Since this is a perk to reduce your tax liability, you can't claim if you paid no tax in the year you're claiming for.

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What will you get?

As Lewis said on his ITV show, the standard rate is £60 a year.

Those paying the 20% tax rate will get £12 extra and those paying a higher rate of tax will get another £24.

You can claim for the previous five years, with the deadline for 2019/20 the end of March.

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Enhanced rates

If you work in industries with special uniforms, such as being a paramedic, the annual allowance is upped to £185.

An extra £37 is offered for 20% tax rate payers and £74 for higher rates.

Pilots, co-pilots, helicopter pilots and uniformed flight deck crew can claim £1,022 a year while cabin crew stewards and stewardesses can claim £720.

Carpenters, cabinetmakers, joiners, wood carvers and woodcutting machinists can claim back £140 a year.