Can I claim a tax rebate for a toolbox?

A toolbox purchased for work purposes is classed as an eligible expense meaning a claim for capital allowances is possible.

It is only reasonable to expect that if you buy tools for work purposes that you will need a suitable storage solution to safely keep them in. The cost of a tool box is often high with many mechanics and other professionals needing to purchase them through a finance agreement with a reputable tool provider like MAC tools.

The cost of the toolbox is not relevant so even if you have spent many thousands of pounds it should still qualify as long as it was bought for work purposes and you were not reimbursed in full by your employer.

Toolbox tax relief on Interest payments

At the same time as making a tax rebate claim for your tools and toolboxes tax relief can be reclaimed on the interest element of any finance payments made within the last four tax years. For this reason it is always worth keeping a copy of your finance agreement because this is needed as evidence and shows the breakdown of how much interest you paid on the purchased item.

Start your toolbox and tools tax rebate today

Our tax rebate experts can help you claim a tax rebate for your tool boxes, hand tools, diagnostic equipment and software and for maintaining your PPE.

To start your tool claim you can submit our easy contact form below, call our team on 01228 520477 or email support@taxrebateservices.co.uk.

Reviewed by Tony Shanks, Operations Director Tax Rebate Services and member of Association of Tax Technicians (ATT)
Tool tax refund calculator

It doesn’t matter what your job is if you buy tools for work you can claim a tax rebate. Just enter the total of how much you’ve spent on tools to get your tax rebate estimate.

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Mechanics tax rebates
If you do not have receipts your ‘Flat Rate’ claim can be backdated for 4 tax years and is worth £120 per year…
A tools tax rebate is available to all mechanics who buy the tools they use for work themselves, when they are not reimbursed by their employer…
£900 is the average tax refund amount we get for our clients that are mechanics making an initial claim…
You have to play your part in the process by submitting a tax rebate form or using the correct section of the self assessment process…
Tool tax rebates

If you are paid under PAYE, tools are tax deductible because you can claim Capital Allowances which gives you tax relief on what you have bought…

The tax relief regulations are very specific about eligibility criteria. And the Capital Allowances rules are not exclusively for self employed taxpayers…

If you are claiming back capital allowances for the actual cost of your tools there is no HMRC limit to how far back you can claim a tool tax rebate…
The amount you get for a tool tax rebate is dependent on several factors, including: how much you earn, how much tax you pay, how much you have spent on tools, what evidence you have to support your claim…
Types of tool tax rebate
Yes, you can claim the tax back on tools you have bought for work…
These can be actual items, like machinery, vehicles or equipment; or intangible things, like patents, or intellectual property…
The government has set up a system of tax reliefs and allowances for work expenses to make the system fairer for taxpayers…

HMRC’s rules state that capital allowances should be claimed within your self assessment tax return (Section 3i and ii, CAA 2001)…

Tool tax rebates other expenses and tax returns
Yes, you can claim a tool tax rebate and a uniform rebate all at the same time…
Yes, if you have to complete a tax return you must enter your tool expenses on your return…
Yes, you should submit a tax refund claim for tools, fuel and anything else that applies to you all at the same time…
Yes, even though you may now be self employed, you can still potentially claim tax relief for when you were employed under PAYE…