70% of nurses and midwives are missing out on over £170 a year

Nurses and midwives who do not claim tax relief on their annual NMC registration fee, subscription to their union or professional body, laundering of their uniform or for tights and shoes are missing out on over £170* a year the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has found.

Nurses and midwives are eligible to claim tax relief on the NMC annual registration fee which at the current fee level of £100 is worth £20** per year. They are also able to claim for professional subscriptions such RCN or RCM membership, laundering of their uniforms*** and for tights and shoes*** purchased as part of their uniform. This could be worth up to £177* for nurses and midwives.

A recent survey by the NMC also found that 70 percent**** of nurses and midwives are not claiming tax relief while only 50 percent**** were aware that they could claim tax relief. 

Chief Executive and Registrar of the NMC, Jackie Smith, said: 

“It is important that nurses and midwives know that they are eligible to claim tax relief on their annual NMC registration fee, as well as other profession related items such as laundering of uniforms and professional subscriptions to their union or professional body. 

“For many nurses and midwives this can be worth up to £177* per year.” 

Nurses and midwives who have not previously claimed can also claim tax relief for up to the previous four tax years. 

Nurses and midwives are able to claim tax relief on their annual registration fees, professional subscriptions, tights, shoes and laundering of their uniforms through HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

-End-

Notes for editors

1.   We are the nursing and midwifery regulator for England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Islands. We exist to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the public. We set standards of education, training, conduct and performance for nurses and midwives, and hold the register of those who have qualified and meet those standards. We provide guidance to help nurses and midwives keep their skills and knowledge up to date and uphold our professional standards. We have clear and transparent processes to investigate and deal with nurses and midwives who fall short of our standards.

2.   *Based on a qualified, registered nurse or midwife with an RCN/RCM subscription, who pay their own NMC registration fee and who have to launder their own uniforms and purchase obligatory shoes and tights appropriate to their role.

3.   **If you are a basic rate UK taxpayer.

4.   ***Nurses and midwives can claim £100 for laundering of uniforms provided their employer does not provide them with free laundry facilities/cleaning vouchers. They can also claim £6 per year for tights and £12 per year for shoes so long as they meet the prescribed conditions on colour and style. Professional fees based on £39.37 Full Nurse RCN membership and £20 NMC annual registration fee. Total = £177.37.

5.   ****Based on a sample survey of 354 nurses and midwives between January and March 2014.

6.   Tax relief on annual registration fees, subscriptions, tights, shoes and laundry costs can only be claimed via the HMRC. It is not a process that the NMC can undertake on behalf of nurses and midwives.

7.   Nurses and midwives can claim their tax relief via personal tax returns or by contacting the HMRC via letter, phone or filling in a P180 tax review form.

8.   The HMRC does not normally require written information from the NMC of the payments nurses or midwives have made. However the NMC is happy to provide payment histories over the phone on 020 7333 9333.

9.   For further information on claiming tax relief on your NMC annual registration fee please visit:www.nmc-uk.org/Registration/Staying-on-the-register/Claiming-tax-relief-on-your-registration-fee/.

10.  For media enquiries, please contact Madeleine Childs at madeleine.childs@nmc-uk.org or on 020 7681 5936.