Haircut tax relief
 

As military personnel have to have their hair groomed iaw QR’s which means groomed more regularly than a civilian, has the question ever been asked if we can claim back the VAT.

Two chances mate!

I thought it was two hopes: Bob and none.

And Bob’s out of town.

Claim that you are being discriminated against for some reason.

Slim and eff all.

mog

Based on the information you have supplied, I think you definitely have a prima facie case. In fact residents of [[i]insert town] are going viral for this service, and you could be owed ££££s.

If you would like to send your details and bank account number to info@doenitzgraabbitandscarper, my team can be on your case as soon as the banks open.

I did ask HMRC about this issue. I did not catch their first word, but the second was Oscar.

I always remember a fellow Flight Cadet having his first Cranwell haircut.;
"Can I keep my side boards?"
" Certainly Sir!''
Zip! Zip !
" Here they are !"

At the hands, or rather the clippers, of 'Slasher' no doubt, eh Haraka?

After my year on 99, I didn't get a haircut for at least another 4 months as an APO!

If the Sergeant Majors, Station Warrant Officers and whatever the Navy has actually did their job for once and marched our scruffy dishevelled PM off to the base barbers next time he popped in for a Typhoon / Tank driving photo-shoot experience, the precedent wold be set, haircuts would be 100% claimable on expenses.

It used to be 4 'opes: Envelope, Antelope, Bob 'ope and No...

Memory fades, but I’m sure this was clarified sometime in the 90’s, not long after self-assessment guidelines seemed to indicate that it would be reasonable to claim certain costs, including haircuts. An unofficial ‘mates’ memo did the rounds so I suspect there were enough claims being submitted to trigger the Taxman into action. If I recall there was MOD vs Treasury clarification issued, effectively telling us to stop taking the piss.

I remember claiming a monthly haircut and also dining-in nights which were promulgated as parades. It seemed fair enough the way the guidance notes were written and I was not the only one who claimed the tax relief.

My thought process was that if the Taxman insisted on sending a form to complete then why not claim iaw the guidance notes.

It worked the first year. By coincidence (maybe) I then had a very ‘aggressive’ random audit/investigation into my very modest income from rental property, including 100% check of receipts for all claimed expenses. Thankfully I had kept everything but they sure looked hard. Without doubt, if I had falsely declared anything they would have had me. It was rather an unpleasant process, the tone being an assumption of guilt unless you could provide all the original receipts.

I took the hint.

I once tried to claim Sgt's. Mess fees based on the premise that in civvy street union fees were deductible, no joy with that one either.

I'm pleased to say my expenditure on haircuts would have never warranted any claim back...

I’d be surprised if most barbers/hairdressers charged VAT anyway. They would need to exceed the £85,000 threshold to be required to register. Also, many are self-employed and rent a chair from the establishment they work in, which keeps their tax liabilities too.

So, unless you’re going to Nicky Clarke’s salon, then I suspect there is nothing to claim back!

Try getting a receipt off a cash hairdresser!

I recall an article on a barrister who tried to claim for black court clothing (not wig or gown ) and was turned down on the basis that it could be used "personally". The rejoinder that she wouldn't wear black clothing personally, cut no ice.In this case, you would certainly be availing yourselves of your haircuts in your personal lives :}

Relief Sir?
 

Just to be serious for a moment. I’m all for claiming back every penny but can we do some simple maths for a second?

Let’s say a barber cut costs £10 (I realise this may not be taking inflation into account but it won’t be far off). Let’s also say that a good military man gets his haircut monthly. How often would a civilian visit the barber? Bi-monthly perhaps (I bet on average it could be claimed that civilians visit the barber as often as military men and probably visit more expensive barbers as well)? How much tax are you able to claim back from that £10 cut? Even if you were able to prove it I suspect we’re talking pennies over a year. In fact my time typing this message is worth more than you will manage to reclaim so I will stop typ…

Definitely not worth navigating the torture device that is JPA and the inevitable audit months in the future