Military Personnel — Are You Owed a Tax Refund?
If you're serving in the British Armed Forces there's a good chance HMRC owes you money — and an equally good chance you've never claimed it.
Most military personnel are entitled to tax relief on a range of work-related expenses. The problem is nobody tells you. You're not taught it at basic training, your unit won't remind you, and HMRC won't volunteer it. That's where we come in.
Travel and mileage — where the real value is
If you use your own vehicle to travel to a temporary workplace or different base, you can claim relief on the gap between HMRC's approved 45p-per-mile rate and whatever the MOD reimbursed you. This is relief on the shortfall — a basic-rate taxpayer recovers 20% of that gap — and it applies to temporary postings, not your regular commute to a permanent base.
Uniform maintenance
If you launder or maintain your own uniform a flat-rate allowance may apply. For many people this is already built into your tax code, so we check rather than assume — over-claiming is exactly what HMRC scrutinises, and we'd rather get it right.
Meals, subscriptions and tools
Meals bought out of pocket while working away from base, fees to an approved professional body, and tools you bought that weren't reimbursed can all be claimable depending on your circumstances.
What years can you claim?
Currently the last four tax years: 2025/26, 2024/25, 2023/24 and 2022/23. Claims for 2022/23 must be submitted before 5 April 2027 — don't leave it too late.
Example figures assume a basic-rate taxpayer. Individual results will vary and are determined by HMRC.
Find out what you're owed →