Uniform Tax Rebate Calculator
If you wash your own work uniform, HMRC owes you a tax refund. Select your industry to see exactly how much you can claim back over the last 4 years.
Your Details
HMRC allows you to backdate claims up to 4 previous tax years (5 years total).
Total HMRC Rebate
This is the estimated cash refund HMRC owes you for washing your uniform.
Do not pay a third party to claim this for you. It takes 5 minutes to do it for free on the official government website.
Everything You Need to Know About the Uniform Tax Rebate (2026)
If you wear a recognisable work uniform—whether that's a polo shirt with a company logo, nurse scrubs, or high-vis construction gear—and you have to wash it yourself at home, HMRC allows you to claim tax relief to cover your laundry costs.
Millions of UK workers are completely unaware of this rule and miss out on hundreds of pounds of free money every year. Even better, you can backdate your claim for the last four tax years!
How does the Flat Rate Expense (FRE) work?
HMRC sets a standard "Flat Rate Expense" for uniform maintenance. For 2026/27, the standard basic rate is £60 per year. You do not get £60 in cash; instead, your taxable income is reduced by £60. This means a basic-rate taxpayer (20%) will receive a £12 tax saving per year.
However, many industries have much higher negotiated allowances. For example, ambulance staff get an allowance of £185 per year, which translates to a £37/year cash rebate for basic rate taxpayers.
How to Claim for Free
There are hundreds of "tax rebate companies" advertising on social media offering to claim this for you. Never use them. They will take a 30% to 50% cut of your rebate.
You can claim 100% of your money for free by going to Gov.uk and filling out a P87 form online. You'll need your employer's PAYE reference number and your National Insurance number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the uniform tax rebate?
If you have to wear a uniform for work, and you wash it yourself at home, HMRC allows you to claim a flat-rate tax deduction to cover the cost of laundry. This is called a Flat Rate Expense (FRE). It reduces your taxable income, meaning you get a tax refund.
How much is the uniform tax rebate in 2026?
For most people in 2026/27, the standard uniform allowance is £60 per year, which gives you £12 back if you are a basic rate taxpayer. However, specific industries have much higher allowances. For example, nurses can claim £125, and ambulance staff can claim £185.
How many years back can I claim a uniform tax rebate?
HMRC allows you to backdate your uniform tax rebate claim for the current tax year plus the 4 previous tax years. This means if you've never claimed before, you could get a lump sum refund covering 5 years of laundry costs.
Who is eligible to claim for washing their uniform?
To claim, you must wear a recognisable uniform (like a branded t-shirt or nurse scrubs), your employer must require you to wear it, you must pay to wash it yourself, and you must have paid income tax in the year you are claiming for.
How do I claim my uniform tax rebate?
You do not need to pay a third-party company to do this for you! You can claim it completely free on the Gov.uk website by searching for 'Claim tax relief for your job expenses' and filling out a quick P87 form online.