Clothing Claim - allowable for tax?

[Howzat]

I bought a lovely new suit on the weekend, a drop dead show stopper. The suit is 100% exclusively for work which begs the question "am I able to claim the costs back for tax purposes"? I understand construction workers can claim for things like protective jackets and steel toe-cap boots so surely this is something I can put through.
Thanks

[Pistachio]

No. Next question?

[Bel]

Originally Posted by Howzat

I bought a lovely new suit on the weekend, a drop dead show stopper. The suit is 100% exclusively for work which begs the question "am I able to claim the costs back for tax purposes"? I understand construction workers can claim for things like protective jackets and steel toe-cap boots so surely this is something I can put through.
Thanks

No, I'm afraid not. A suit can be worn anywhere, for social functions and so on. Just using it for work is your choice, not a necessity.

PPE, on the other hand, is bought for purpose. Nevertheless, I still have a question mark over whether you could even claim for these if you were doing a one-off gig that required PPE for a specific project but you did not use in the normal course of your business activities.

Some years ago, I did some work on a civil engineering project and needed to wear hard hat and steel cap boots to visit construction site stakeholders (yes, I looked a right banana!) But I borrowed these from the hirer. Unfortunately, communication strategists, in the normal course of their work, don't need to wear a hard hat and steel cap boots to compile a comms plan because it's white collar work. So I wouldn't be able to buy PPE and claim it on a 'just in case I ever need to use it sometime in future' basis. But I would if I specifically specialised in CE projects and nothing else.

For the same reason, construction or civil engineering contractors that must visit danger zones wearing PPE are like doctors that need a white housecoat and barristers that need robes.

Perhaps an accountant could elaborate on this, in case I'm wrong?

[Malvolio]

AIUI you can claim business clothing provided it carries your business logo (presumably on the bais that would invalidate it for social wear). So fine for a hard hat and vest, but perhaps not a Paul Smith suit...

[Pistachio]

I heard once that judges couldn't claim for gowns, because technically it could be worn out and about (if a little unfashionable, but I'm sure the HMRC don't exactly represent the cutting edge in fashion statements)

Anyone else heard that one?

[Bel]

Originally Posted by Pistachio

I heard once that judges couldn't claim for gowns, because technically it could be worn out and about (if a little unfashionable, but I'm sure the HMRC don't exactly represent the cutting edge in fashion statements)

Anyone else heard that one?

That's why I recommended asking one of the accountancy experts on here. The rules may be more complex than that. Perhaps it is based purely on what's essential to perform the work not whether it constitutes some sort of uniform that can still be worn elsewhere - even if that is highly unlikely (except at a fancy dress do).

Whatever you do, don't turn up at the hirer site wearing a judges wig. You will look a complete plonker!

[Howzat]

Originally Posted by Malvolio

AIUI you can claim business clothing provided it carries your business logo (presumably on the bais that would invalidate it for social wear). So fine for a hard hat and vest, but perhaps not a Paul Smith suit...

what about if I slapped a HOWZAT LIMITED logo on the sleeve of the jacket and pocket of the trousers?

[bez]

Would anyone actually be so stingy as to try and claim for clothes??

[Malvolio]

Originally Posted by Howzat

what about if I slapped a HOWZAT LIMITED logo on the sleeve of the jacket and pocket of the trousers?

That would do it. You'd look a total wotsit though...

Hint: the clothing rules are to cover workwear, not everyday clothing. Why should my taxes pay for your over-inflated taste in suits?

[curleyted]

Originally Posted by bez

Would anyone actually be so stingy as to try and claim for clothes??

We're talking about contractors here. Of course they are.