HMRC is being “inundated” with claims from employees working from home during the coronavirus lockdown, with a number of people working remotely seeking tax relief on supplies like office desks, furniture, paper and printer ink. The Times says the relief, which is available if a worker can show their purchases are “wholly, exclusively and necessarily” in the performance of their role, has rarely been used but the COVID-19 lockdown has “opened the floodgates to claims.”
Nimesh Shah, a partner at Blick Rothenberg, comments: “Because a large number of people have been forced to work from home during the lockdown, HMRC will be inundated with claims for home working expenses.” HMRC said it has no precise figures on the number of P87 claims it had received, but says the volume has increased significantly.
Read more here: The Times