Social workers missing out on registration fees tax relief finds HCPC poll

HCPC registrants can claim back £16 a year on their registration fees

By Tristan Donovan on May 20, 2014 in Inspection and regulation, Workforce

Fewer than three out of 10 Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registrants are claiming the tax relief available to them on their registration fees.

A poll of 100 HCPC registrants, including 19 social workers, found that only 28% had claimed back the tax on the £80 annual registration fee.

The poll also found that 46% did not know they could reclaim the money, which amounts to £16 a year for standard rate taxpayers.

A further 15% said they thought the process of reclaiming the money would be too complicated.

“We’re taking this opportunity to remind registrants that claiming back tax on their registration fees is quick, easy and offers significant savings,” said HCPC chief executive Marc Seale.

The HCPC said social workers who fill in tax returns can reclaim the tax on their registration fees by doing so on the employment page of the return, while those who do not file tax returns can reclaim the money using HMRC’s P87 form.