HMRC offering hundreds of pounds to people who work from home

HMRC offering hundreds of pounds to people who work from home Millions of people could qualify and applying for the money is simple With energy bills going up in October, and then again in January - possibly by as much as 30% according to EDF - every penny counts. So this could be the perfect time to claim back hundreds of pounds from HMRC. When the pandemic hit, millions of people suddenly found themselves working from home - and some figures show around 40% of people still work from home, with millions more enjoying a hybrid system where they split time between home and a workplace. If you work from home, full or part-time, you can claim tax relief on the expenses incurred - things such as phone calls, electricity, and gas. HMRC scrapped the rule allowing you to claim from April this year - but if you haven't claimed before, you can still file a backdated claim for the last four years. You can claim tax relief if you have to work from home, for example, because your employer does not have an office or the office is too far from your home. You cannot claim if you just choose to work from home. You cannot claim for things that you use for both private and business use, such as rent or broadband access. You can claim tax relief on either £6 a week or the exact amount you’ve spent. If you pay the 20% basic rate of tax and claim tax relief on £6 a week, you would get £1.20 per week in tax relief. While £1.20 doesn't sound a lot - that would be almost £250 if you claimed for four years of backdated relief. When you claim, you must send evidence that you have to work from home. If you’re claiming the exact amount you’ve spent, you will also need to send evidence such as a copy of your receipts or bills. One claimant who just received cash back from HMRC said: "It was really simple to do. I downloaded the HMRC app and filled in the form, which was mostly ticking a few boxes. I claimed for the last four years as allowed. "HMRC wanted a few details, but nothing I didn't have to hand, and as I was claiming the £6 per week, I didn't need evidence of what I had spent. About a week after I filled in the form, they asked me to prove I have to work from home - I have a letter from my employer saying I have been working from home since lockdown. "They also asked me to confirm my employer doesn't pay any of my expenses for working from home, which they don't. Two days after I sent them a copy of the letter, I got a message saying the tax relief money would be transferred to my account within five working days. "It's basically free money. I spent between 30 minutes and an hour on the process in total and got the full amount." If you're claiming for a longer period, claiming for larger amounts you can prove you have spent or if you pay a higher rate of tax - your settlement could be even higher. You can check your eligibility and apply for the tax relief either on the HMRC app or online here .