Are Safety Shoes classed as a taxable item?

[sisgen10]

Hi all,

 

Just a quick question. The company I work for have stated that the safety shoes that they supply to employees under health and safety regs are a taxable item. Can anyone confirm this? I have looked on the government web site but cannot find anything relating to this. I would have thought that they were not a taxable item as they were needed for work purposes but I stand to be corrected.

[honeybee13]

Hello sisgen10.

 

I just looked on the Citizens Advice Bureau website about Benefits in Kind, which is what I think safety shoes come under with HMRC. According to the CAB, safety clothing isn't a benefit in kind, but I hope someone else will comment.

 

You might try looking at Benefit in Kind regulations online.

 

Good luck

[jdes26]

if ur self employed

 

yes they are.

 

work clothes

tools

drills

car

insurances

petrol

travel

etc etc

[cynic09]

whoever pays for them can deduct from tax bill.

your employer cant supply them then charge you income tax on them

[Loser4u]

If you have a uniform or workwear that is issued to you that you are required to wear and you are expected to clean these yourself then the cost of laundering these clothes is also tax deductable

[sisgen10]

Thanks for all your replys. I may have confused the issue a bit. I will try to clarify it. I am not self employed but work for a company who provide safety shoes to it's employees who need them for work under health and safety regs due to the nature of the working environment. However the employees are being told that the cost of the shoes will be treated as a "perk" if you like and that tax will have to be paid on the cost of them via paye. Presumably with the issue of a P11D form from the employer at the relevant time. Surely this is not correct? The cost implication is not really an issue, it is the principle that I am questioning.

[cynic09]

Safety equipment, workware etc are not benefits in kind.

Your employer can deduct the cost of providing such things from the tax he would have to pay on profits.

Equally if you were required to provide your own, YOU would claim the cost back from HMRC if you fill in an annual return, or by application to HMRC if you don't

Edited December 31, 2009 by cynic09

[matwoot]

normally if the employers wanted money back, they would give you £15 or so (as an example), then you could either buy cheap boots, or pay the extra to get nicer ones. As far as the tax goes on workboots, The company shouldn't pay tax in the first place. This is from experience when i used to sell Health and safety equipment. We would charge tax on harnesses, overalls, etc, but not safety shoes (as long as they cover the ankle). I'm sure people will disagree, but it's true

[cynic09]

Matwoot, Your talking about VAT. The cost of safety equipment in an allowable deduction against company profits

[WOOD73]

any ppe (i.e.-safety boots, hard hats etc.) that are compulsory to wear under health and safety or company h&s policy(i.e.- if you dont wear them you will be disciplined) must be provided by the employer free of charge if you are an employee, they cannot charge you for them in any way.

if you are self employed, you are in effect you own employer and you must provide them yourself.

 

A quick call (anonymously) to the health and safety exec for advice will remove any doubt.

[djgordyp]

In a similar vein. The company I work for supplies wellington boots free of charge but charge £4 if we want boots. Similraly, a lightweight bodywarmer is free but we have to pay extra if we want the heavier ones. Are they allowed to do this.

 

I suppose if they weren't allowed to charge extra then they would just stick to the standard items. So it's probably one of those occassions when it's best to say nothing.

[WOOD73]

they only have to provide the minimum nessersary to comply with health and safety. so anything better can be charged for.

[lisa7893]

Hello,

 

I have just checked many things and read some details on HMRC. So I got some info, Safety shoes come under HMRC. So, in under HMRC if safety shoes are purchasing by an individual for industrial use then they are non-taxable item.

Thank you!

[honeybee13]

Hello Lisa and welcome to CAG.

 

You need to start a new thread please, this one is for advising the OP.

 

Thread closed to prevent further posting.

 

Best, HB