What are the rules for military tax refunds?​

MOD Tax RefundsI've been told that Armed Forces personnel aren't allowed to claim. Is that right?

Absolutely not - and RIFT has fought long and hard to prove it! Armed Forces personnel are entitled to their tax refunds, just like other UK workers, and the MOD officially clarified exactly that in a letter to us. In fact, DIN '2015DIN01-005' was sent out to all Service members so there’d be no doubt about it.

Mostly, people were just getting confused by HMRC’s rules about “temporary postings”. Others were tying themselves in knots about things like HDT, or worrying that they’d have to pay their refund back later. The truth is, there’s no reason at all why you shouldn’t claim back every penny the taxman owes you. An Military tax refund isn’t some dodgy way of cheating the system. It’s your legal right, so you’re only cheating yourself if you don’t claim it.

MOD Tax RefundsCan I still claim back tax for mileage while I was training?

Depending on the type of training course you’re on, you could still be owed a tax refund for your travel costs. HMRC’s rules about this kind of refund are pretty complicated and very strict. The main thing to ask is whether or not the training’s a vital part of your duties. If it is, you could be owed a refund. One key point to remember is that you’ll need to have completed Phase One training before you can make a refund claim. You can use our free mileage expenses calculator to see how much you could be due back.

MOD Uniform Tax RebatesCan I claim for washing my uniform?

Laundry costs are usually factored into your Personal Allowance (the amount you can earn each year before paying tax). This means you won’t generally claim a refund for them, as HMRC will adjust your tax code to make sure you’re not paying too much.

You do have the option of making a claim for your actual laundry expenses, instead of using HMRC’s agreed Flat Rate Expense Allowance (FREA). You’ll need to talk to the taxman directly to do that, though, and have some evidence to show him of what you’ve spent.

For Mess Dress, you could have a tax refund claim covering up to the last 4 tax years.

MOD Tax Refund RulesCan I claim a tax refund for any travel costs incurred whilst I was training?

It will depend on the type of training.  HMRC has strict rules about what is classed as an allowable expense around training.  If it was an essential part of your contractual duties of employment then we might be able to claim for the travelling expenses.  You will need to have completed your phase one training to make a claim.  Even if you are not due a refund on your mileage this year, remember that you can claim for the past 4 tax years so use our tax calculator to find out if you are owed anything.