Can I get tax relief on tools and equipment for work?
If you have to buy tools or equipment to do your job and your employer does not pay you back, you may be able to claim tax relief on the cost. You can claim the actual amount with receipts, and some trades have agreed flat-rate allowances. You apply directly to HMRC.
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Check what you're owed →Many employees, especially in skilled trades, spend their own money on tools and equipment that are essential for their work. Where these are bought wholly and exclusively for the job and the employer does not reimburse them, tax relief is available, reducing the income you are taxed on rather than refunding the full purchase price.
There are two routes. You can claim the actual cost using receipts and records, which suits people who make larger or one-off purchases. Or, for certain occupations, HMRC has agreed flat-rate amounts that cover the routine upkeep and replacement of tools, letting you claim without itemising every item.
Relief on bigger equipment may be given over time rather than all at once, depending on the item, so it is worth understanding how your claim will be treated before you submit it. Keeping good records of what you buy makes the process much smoother, and tools relief often sits alongside uniform or professional-fee claims for the same role.
How to claim tax relief on tools and equipment
- Check the cost qualifies. Confirm the tools or equipment were bought solely for your job and your employer did not reimburse you.
- Decide actual cost or flat rate. Choose between claiming the exact amount with receipts or an agreed flat rate if one exists for your trade.
- Keep your evidence. Gather receipts and proof of purchase for an actual-cost claim, and note the dates and items.
- Submit to HMRC. Make your claim through the HMRC service or your Self Assessment return, and check your tax code is updated.
Frequently asked questions
- What tools can I claim for?
- Tools and equipment bought wholly and exclusively for your job that your employer does not reimburse. Personal items or things with significant private use do not qualify.
- Do I need receipts?
- For an actual-cost claim, yes. Some trades can use an agreed flat rate instead, which does not need receipts but covers a set amount.
- What if my employer reimburses me?
- You cannot claim relief on costs your employer pays back. The relief is only for money you have genuinely spent yourself and not recovered.
- Is relief given all at once?
- Smaller items are usually relieved in the year you buy them. Larger equipment may be relieved over a longer period depending on the rules that apply.
MoneyFinder is an independent sign-posting service that helps you find financial support you may be entitled to. We are not a government body and do not provide financial advice. Figures are taken from the official sources cited above and were correct when last checked — always confirm current details on the linked GOV.UK pages.