Can I claim tax relief for working from home?
If your employer requires you to work from home, you may be able to claim tax relief on the extra household costs this causes, such as heating and electricity. You can claim a simple weekly flat rate without keeping receipts, or claim the exact extra costs with evidence. You apply directly to HMRC.
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Check what you're owed →Working-from-home tax relief is for employees who have to work from home as part of their job, not those who simply choose to. The rules tightened in recent years, so the test is whether your employer requires home working — for example, because there is no office available to you, or your contract states you work remotely.
There are two ways to claim. The flat-rate method gives you a fixed weekly amount to cover the extra costs of running your home for work, and you do not need to prove the exact figures. Alternatively, you can claim the precise additional costs you have incurred, but then you need records and evidence to support the larger amount.
The relief reduces your taxable income rather than handing you the cash directly, so the benefit depends on your tax rate. It is an easy claim to make and one many eligible employees overlook, so if home working is a genuine requirement of your role, it is worth checking alongside any other job-expense reliefs you may qualify for.
How to claim working-from-home tax relief
- Confirm you are required to work from home. Check that home working is a requirement of your job rather than a personal choice, as only required home working qualifies.
- Choose your method. Decide between the simple weekly flat rate with no receipts, or claiming the exact extra costs with supporting evidence.
- Apply through HMRC. Use the GOV.UK microservice for working-from-home relief, or include it in your Self Assessment return if you file one.
- Check your tax code. Relief is often given by adjusting your tax code, so confirm the change appears and that the benefit is being applied.
Key figures (official sources)
- £6 a weekFlat-rate working-from-home job-expense relief (no receipts needed)You get relief at your marginal tax rate — e.g. a 20% taxpayer gets £1.20 a week.Source: GOV.UK — Claim tax relief for your job expenses: working from home (checked 2026-06-28)
Frequently asked questions
- Can I claim if I choose to work from home?
- No. The relief is only for employees required to work from home by their employer, not those who work from home by personal preference.
- Do I need receipts for the flat rate?
- No. The flat-rate method lets you claim a set weekly amount without keeping receipts. You only need evidence if you claim the exact extra costs instead.
- Does my employer pay this or HMRC?
- If your employer does not reimburse your extra costs, you claim tax relief on them from HMRC, which reduces the tax you pay.
- Can the self-employed claim this way?
- No. The self-employed claim home-working costs through their Self Assessment expenses instead, which works differently from the employee flat rate.
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.