Claiming Money Back for Home Cleaning Expenses: What You Need to Know

Hiring a cleaner can make life easier, but did you know that there are situations where you might be able to claim back the cost of your cleaner? Whether you’re self-employed or an employer, understanding the rules and knowing how to claim can help you save money. Here’s everything you need to know about home cleaning expenses and how to report them to HMRC.

Can Self-Employed People Claim Cleaning Expenses?

Yes, if you are self-employed and work from home, you may be able to claim a portion of your cleaning expenses as a business expense. However, there are specific rules to follow:

  • Work-related use: You can only claim the part of your cleaning costs that relate to the area of your home used for business purposes. For example, if you use one room as an office, you can claim the cleaning costs for that room, but not for the entire house.
  • Proportional claim: HMRC allows you to claim a proportion of household bills, including cleaning, based on the percentage of your home that you use for work and the time spent working there.

To calculate this, you can divide the cleaning costs by the number of rooms in your home and claim a percentage based on how much time that room is used for business.

How to Claim Cleaning Expenses

When submitting your tax return, you’ll need to include the cleaning expenses under the “business expenses” section. Keep detailed records of your receipts and the calculations used to determine the proportion of cleaning costs attributable to your business space. HMRC may ask for this information during a tax audit.

Can Employers Pay for Employee Cleaning?

Some employers offer home-cleaning services as a benefit to their employees, but this must be reported as a taxable benefit. The rules for employers are as follows:

  • Taxable benefit: If you pay for a cleaner for your employee’s home, this is considered a benefit in kind and must be reported to HMRC. The employee may need to pay tax on the value of the service provided.
  • Reporting to HMRC: Employers must report the value of the cleaning services on a P11D form and pay Class 1A National Insurance on the value of the benefit. Employees will then be taxed on the value of this benefit.

What You Can’t Claim

It’s important to note that you cannot claim cleaning expenses for general household cleaning if it’s not related to business use. Additionally, cleaning costs for personal spaces (bedrooms, living areas) are not eligible for tax relief for either self-employed individuals or employees.

Summary of Rules for Claiming Cleaning Expenses:

  • Self-employed individuals can claim a proportion of cleaning expenses if the space is used for business purposes.
  • Employers can pay for cleaning services for employees but must report this as a taxable benefit.
  • All claims must be properly documented, and HMRC may request evidence, so keep your receipts and calculations.

By understanding these rules, you can make sure you’re not missing out on potential savings while staying compliant with HMRC guidelines.

If you’re considering hiring a cleaner or would like to know more about how Haus Maids can help, get in touch with us today!