Taxpayers are missing the chance to claim for work-related expenses – and many of those who do, fail to receive a full refund by using agents.

Now HMRC has stepped in to remind workers that they can make their own claims directly through GOV.UK.

More than 800,000 taxpayers claimed tax refunds for work expenses during the 2021 to 2022 tax year, but while the average claim was £125, more than 70 per cent of claimants missed out on getting the full amount they were due because they used an agent to make their claim instead of doing it themselves.

HMRC advises it is quick and easy to claim a tax refund directly through its online portal on the GOV.UK website, and is the only way to guarantee receiving 100 per cent of the repayment – with no small print and no middlemen taking a cut.

Don’t be out of pocket

Victoria Atkins, Financial Secretary to The Treasury said: “Nobody should miss out on the full claim of a tax rebate – and by going straight to HMRC people can avoid being left out of pocket because of unscrupulous repayments agents.

“Thanks to our Spring Budget reforms, if someone no longer wants an agent involved in their claim, they’ll be able to cancel it so any future rebates will go to the taxpayer in full.”

Jonathan Athow, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Strategy and Tax Design, said: “Every penny counts and we want to make sure employed workers are getting what they deserve – their hard-earned cash straight back into their pockets. To make a claim just search ‘employee tax relief’ on GOV.UK. It is the quickest way of getting a tax refund on your work-related expenses and ensures you get 100 per cent of the money back.”

What you can claim for

Submitting a claim through HMRC’s online portal is straightforward and takes about 15 minutes. Customers can use the handy online tool to check eligibility and a full list of work expenses they can claim including:

• uniforms and work clothing
• buying work-related equipment
• professional fees, union memberships and subscriptions
• using their own vehicle for work travel (excluding journey from home to work)

Customers who already have a Government Gateway account can follow the step-by-step guidance to submit their claim. Those who need to set an account up can do so quickly and easily via GOV.UK.

For customers who are considering using a repayment agent, HMRC is reminding them to be aware that an agent always charges for services – in some cases up to 50 per cent of the value of the claim. And while initially it may seem simpler, customers will need to supply the agent with the same information they could use to make the claim themselves using HMRC’s free online portal.

It is important customers understand what they are signing up to. Before signing a contract with a repayment agent, they should research the company and always check the small print to ensure they understand what commission is being charged and how much of their tax refund they are likely to receive back.

Customers can find out more about how to make a work-related expense claim and what type of expense they can claim at GOV.UK.

Speak to us if you need further advice on making a claim.

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), effective financial management is vital for success in a competitive business landscape.

Harnessing the power of management accounting, coupled with cloud accounting software, can provide SMEs with powerful tools to enhance decision-making, streamline processes and fuel growth.

Enhanced decision-making

Management accounting provides SMEs with real-time, accurate financial information and analysis. By leveraging cloud accounting software, businesses can easily access and analyse key performance indicators (KPIs), cash flow statements and profitability reports.

This enables owners and managers to make informed decisions promptly, identify areas of improvement and respond to market changes effectively. With greater visibility into their financial data, SMEs can optimise resource allocation, identify cost-saving opportunities and prioritise investments that drive business growth.

Streamlined processes and efficiency

Cloud accounting software offers SMEs a host of automation features, reducing the burden of manual bookkeeping tasks. By automating processes such as invoicing, expense tracking and financial reporting, SMEs can save time and reduce the risk of errors.

Real-time synchronisation of financial data allows for seamless collaboration among team members, accountants and other stakeholders. Additionally, cloud software ensures data security and eliminates the need for manual back-ups. With streamlined processes and improved efficiency, SMEs can focus on core business activities, improve productivity and allocate resources to value-added initiatives.

Scalability and flexibility

Cloud accounting software provides SMEs with scalability and flexibility. As businesses grow and their financial needs evolve, cloud software can easily accommodate expanding operations and adapt to changing requirements.

Cloud solutions offer the advantage of anytime, anywhere access to financial data, empowering SMEs to stay connected and make informed decisions on the go.

Cloud-based platforms often integrate with other business applications, such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems, inventory management tools and payroll software, providing a holistic view of the business and facilitating seamless data flow across different functions.

Cost savings

Adopting cloud accounting software eliminates the need for significant upfront investments in hardware and infrastructure. SMEs can leverage cost-effective subscription models, paying only for the features and resources they require.

Reduced reliance on manual processes and improved data accuracy can help minimise errors, penalties and unnecessary expenses. This cost-saving approach frees up capital for other strategic investments and growth initiatives.

Management accounting, combined with cloud accounting software, empowers SMEs with accurate financial insights, streamlined processes, scalability, flexibility and cost savings.

By embracing this approach, SMEs can make data-driven decisions, optimise operations, and position themselves for long-term success in today’s competitive business environment.

Embrace the power of technology and unleash the full potential of your SME.

Families looking for support during the cost-of-living crisis will be reassured by action being taken to help control the price of road fuel and groceries.

While many of the factors driving price increases are not competition related, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has a vital role to play in giving consumers assurance that competition in critical markets is working well, so they can exercise choice with confidence.

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, said: “The rising cost of living is putting people and businesses under sustained financial pressure. The CMA is determined to do what it can to ensure competition helps contain these pressures as much as possible.”

Road fuel

The CMA has provided an update on the Road Fuel market study it began last year.

While the evidence shows that the majority of fuel price increases are due to global factors, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, indications are that higher pump prices cannot be attributed solely to factors outside the control of the retailers. Based on evidence gathered as part of the Road Fuel market study, the higher prices drivers are paying at the pumps appear in part to reflect some weakening of competition in the road fuel retail market.

Evidence gathered by the CMA indicates that fuel margins have increased across the retail market, but in particular for supermarkets, over the past four years. As a result of these increasing margins, average 2022 supermarket pump prices appear to be around 5p per litre more expensive than they would have been had their average percentage margins remained at 2019 levels.

Although supermarkets still tend to be the cheapest retail suppliers of fuel, evidence from internal documents indicates that at least one supermarket has significantly increased its internal forward-looking margin targets over this period. Other supermarkets have recognised this change in approach and may have adjusted their pricing behaviour accordingly.

While the level of engagement with the study has varied across supermarkets, the CMA is not satisfied that they have all been sufficiently forthcoming with the evidence they have provided.

The CMA will now conduct formal interviews with the supermarkets’ senior management to get to the heart of the issues.

Sarah said: “Our Road Fuel market study is nearly complete. Although much of the pressure on pump prices is down to global factors including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we have found evidence that suggests weakening retail competition is contributing to higher prices for drivers at the pumps. We are also concerned about the sustained higher margins on diesel compared to petrol we have seen this year.”

Groceries

As cost-of-living pressures have grown, the CMA has been working to understand how well markets in essential goods and services are working. Along with road fuel, it identified groceries as an early priority, and started work earlier this year looking into unit pricing practices online and instore.

While global factors have also been the main driver of grocery price increases, and at this stage the CMA has not seen evidence pointing to specific competition concerns in the grocery sector, it is important to be sure that weak competition is not adding to the problems.

Sarah said: “Grocery and food shopping are essential purchases. We recognise that global factors are behind many of the grocery price increases, and we have seen no evidence at this stage of specific competition problems. But, given ongoing concerns about high prices, we are stepping up our work in the grocery sector to help ensure competition is working well and people can exercise choice with confidence.”

Factories producing some of the country’s best-known beers, cereals, soft drinks and cars will receive government support to reduce their energy costs and cut carbon emissions.

Heineken, Kellogg’s, Toyota and Britvic are among businesses across the UK to be awarded a share of £24.3 million government funding to help clean up their manufacturing processes and improve their energy efficiency.

The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) supports businesses using high amounts of energy to reduce their fossil fuel using innovative low-carbon technologies. This will help companies save on their energy costs, which in turn will safeguard British jobs and help grow the economy – one of the government’s five priorities.

• Heineken is receiving £3.7 million to upgrade its Manchester Brewery, including installing technology to recover waste heat from the refrigeration systems used to cool their beer.
• Toyota in Derby is receiving over £282,000 to introduce new airless paint sprayers, which use static electricity instead of air, to reduce the amount of energy they need.
• Britvic Soft Drinks will use £4.4 million to implement new technologies, including a heat recovery system and Low Temperature Hot Water network, at its site in east London, where it produces drinks such as Tango and Robinsons.
• Kellogg’s in Wrexham will receive funding for a study assessing the possibility of recovering the waste heat from their cereal manufacturing processes to reduce their gas usage.
• Tate and Lyle Sugars, which supplies nearly half of all the sugar and syrup on UK supermarket shelves, is receiving over £71,800 to explore how to reduce natural gas use at their Thames Refinery.

Minister for Energy Efficiency Lord Callanan said: “We are leading the world in reaching net zero, having cut emissions by 48 per cent – but to keep up this progress and achieve our green goals, we’ve got to transform our industrial sectors, as some of the industries most critical to our economy are also those with the highest emissions.

“We’re backing them with government funding to use the latest technologies to cut their emissions and their reliance on fossil fuels – helping to future-proof these industries as we grow our green economy.

“This will not only cut their energy costs but also boost their competitiveness on the world stage, helping them thrive and protecting the thousands of jobs they offer across the country.”

Road to net zero

Energy-intensive industries are responsible for 11 per cent of the UK’s total emissions and represent over 70 per cent of UK industrial emissions. While the UK is making excellent progress on the road to net zero, decarbonising faster than any other G7 country, it is estimated that industry will need to cut its emissions by two thirds by 2035 for the UK to achieve its net zero target.

Matt Callan, Senior Director Supply Chain at Heineken UK, said: “We are proud to have ambitious targets when it comes to reducing our carbon footprint, within both our own operations and across our entire value chain. For over 150 years, we have been passionate about making a positive impact and more than ever it is clear that there is no time to waste in taking action to reduce carbon emissions.

“This investment and IETF funding will enable us to act faster, and with the commitment and passion of our colleagues and partners, will help us raise the bar at our Manchester Brewery to brew our beers in a more sustainable way.

“The project will make a significant contribution on our journey to carbon neutrality and provide us with the learnings to reapply across our other sites as we continue our journey to brew a better world.”

A total of £289 million is being made available to businesses through the IETF up to 2027 and these allocations take the amount awarded under the scheme so far to £61.4 million.

Millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money have been saved as the Government clamps down further on benefit fraud.

With a fresh determination to drive down fraud and errors in the benefit system, the overpayment rate has decreased by £400 million over the past 12 months.

The latest national statistics confirm that in the past year fraud and error rates in 2023 fell to 3.6 per cent (£8.3 billion) from 4.0 per cent (£8.7 billion), with Universal Credit (UC) losses falling from 14.7 per cent (£5,920 million) to 12.8 per cent (£5,540 million). The figures also reveal reduced rates of fraud, both overall and within UC.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP, said: “Our welfare system provides a strong financial safety net for vulnerable people, and no one should be able to cynically abuse that for profit.

“We are cracking down on fraudsters, and the figures show encouraging progress as DWP works to both prevent new fraudulent claims and collar cases where people have been shamelessly exploiting the system.

Multi-million pound Fraud Plan

“While we may be beginning to turn the tide on fraud, there is no room for complacency and still much to do. Our £900 million Fraud Plan will help us deliver savings of over £9 billion for the taxpayer over the next five years.”

The rates of fraud and error are coming down, with statistically significant decreases recorded in the UC overpayment rate and rates of claimant error – which has reduced by over a third. The official error overpayments rate is now at the lowest recorded rate.

The overall rate of fraud overpayments is also down from the highest recorded level in 2022 when fraudsters took advantage of the temporary easements the DWP put in place during the pandemic to pay people who needed help.

The Government has been clear that it will crack down on those exploiting the benefits system as they are stealing from those who most need help.

Minister responsible for tackling fraud, Tom Pursglove MP, said: “Benefit fraud is never a victimless crime, which is why it’s entirely right we stop money going to fraudsters and serious crime groups intent on exploiting the system – and is instead paid to the people who need it.

“Cutting fraud delivers on the Prime Minister’s priorities, reducing our national debt and helping to curb inflation by protecting the hard-earned money of taxpayers.

“We’re starting to see the rates of fraud and error move in a positive direction, thanks to our preventative work, alongside vigorously pursuing fraudsters using the full range of our powers to show that crime does not pay.”

Savings targeted

Last year the DWP launched a robust plan to drive down fraud and error from the benefits system. The “Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System” plan sits alongside investment of £900 million that will deliver £2.4 billion of savings by the end of next year, growing to over £9 billion by 2027/28.

This additional funding will allow the Department to review millions of Universal Credit claims over the next five years. They also provide intelligence on new and emerging ways to identify fraud and error entering the welfare system.

As part of the fraud plan, when parliamentary time allows, DWP plans to introduce a raft of new powers, including strengthening the penalty regime by introducing a new civil penalty for cases of fraud, which will act as a deterrent to those cynically seeking to exploit the system.

The new powers would also include requirements for organisations, such as banks, to share data securely on an increased scale to check levels of savings and whether claimants are living abroad. There are also plans to increase DWP officers’ powers to conduct searches, seize evidence, and make arrests.

If you believe your circumstances have changed, you are encouraged to get in touch with the DWP to ensure your entitlement is correct.