I am a civil engineer working for a state company (what people might call semi state). A friend noted that I am entitled to claim Flat Rate Expenses in my tax return. I am not sure I am.
On the revenue website:
Under Your Job > Flat Rate Expenses > Engineering & Electrical it asks to select my profession:
-Civil Service
-Local Authorities
-Eircom, Coillte, OPW
-Employed by other
I select Employed by Other:
- Skilled workers who bear the full cost of own tools and overalls
- Semi-skilled workers who bear the full cost of own tools and overalls
- All unskilled workers and skilled or semi-skilled workers who do not bear the full cost of own tools and overalls
I don't believe I am any of them, I am a skilled worked and my PPE is supplied. Obviously I need office clothes and would wear something different visiting a site.
What I don't understand is why the first option is only for certain state / semistate employees. I have worked for a local authority and they also provided PPE.
Eircom doesn't even exist but I don't see why those three are different to other state companies, ESB, EirGrid, CIE, DAA etc.
Am I entitled to it?
Surly any tax credit should be about either an expense or if flat rate available to all in a certain profession regardless of employer (public or private). This just seems like a backdoor payment for certain employees.
On the revenue website:
Under Your Job > Flat Rate Expenses > Engineering & Electrical it asks to select my profession:
-Civil Service
-Local Authorities
-Eircom, Coillte, OPW
-Employed by other
I select Employed by Other:
- Skilled workers who bear the full cost of own tools and overalls
- Semi-skilled workers who bear the full cost of own tools and overalls
- All unskilled workers and skilled or semi-skilled workers who do not bear the full cost of own tools and overalls
I don't believe I am any of them, I am a skilled worked and my PPE is supplied. Obviously I need office clothes and would wear something different visiting a site.
What I don't understand is why the first option is only for certain state / semistate employees. I have worked for a local authority and they also provided PPE.
Eircom doesn't even exist but I don't see why those three are different to other state companies, ESB, EirGrid, CIE, DAA etc.
Am I entitled to it?
Surly any tax credit should be about either an expense or if flat rate available to all in a certain profession regardless of employer (public or private). This just seems like a backdoor payment for certain employees.