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  "path": "/money/hmrc-alert-taxpayers-dealt-double-blow",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-24T11:00:04.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "HMRC tax bills averaging £2,300 set to hit thousands of UK savers",
    "State pension tax update as Rachel Reeves faces challenge over 'unfair' policy",
    "HMRC unveils major fuel rate shake-up for petrol and diesel drivers from June 1",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nMillions of UK taxpayers are facing changes to their finances after HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ended home working tax relief, as Labour also rejected calls to raise the personal tax-free allowance to £18,000.\n\nThe standalone tax relief for home workers officially ended on April 6, removing the option for employees to claim the weekly £6 deduction during the current tax year.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHowever, workers who were required to work remotely in previous years may still be entitled to reclaim money through backdated claims covering the period from April 6, 2022 to April 5, 2026.\n\nThe change affects employees who previously used the relief to offset additional household costs linked to working from home.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nUnder the scheme, eligible workers were able to claim a flat-rate £6 weekly deduction directly through HMRC without needing to provide receipts.\n\nEmployees could also submit claims for actual expenses if their costs exceeded the flat-rate allowance.\n\nThe relief was only available to people required to work remotely by their employer rather than those who chose to work from home voluntarily.\n\nWorkers whose employer did not have office premises or whose role required them to live far from the workplace may still qualify for backdated claims.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nEmployees working flexibly by choice cannot claim even if remote working is included within their contract.\n\nEligible costs include business telephone calls and additional energy usage linked to designated work areas inside the home.\n\nExpenses covering both personal and professional use, including rent and broadband, are excluded from the scheme.\n\nThe end of the relief comes as ministers also ruled out increasing the personal allowance to £18,000 despite growing pressure from campaigners.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * HMRC tax bills averaging £2,300 set to hit thousands of UK savers\n  * State pension tax update as Rachel Reeves faces challenge over 'unfair' policy\n  * HMRC unveils major fuel rate shake-up for petrol and diesel drivers from June 1\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA petition calling for the increase attracted more than 31,000 signatures before receiving an official response from HM Treasury on May 5.\n\nCampaigners argued the current £12,570 threshold has remained frozen since 2021 and warned fiscal drag could leave more minimum wage workers paying income tax.\n\nThe Treasury confirmed the Government \"currently has no plans to increase the Personal Allowance to £18,000\".\n\nOfficials said increasing the threshold would cost the Treasury more than £40billion annually in lost revenue.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe department warned such a move would significantly reduce funding available for public services including hospitals, schools and defence.\n\nTreasury officials said the fiscal impact would be equivalent to cutting around one-fifth of the NHS budget in England or approximately two-thirds of defence spending.\n\nLabour also argued the proposed increase would disproportionately benefit higher earners compared with basic-rate taxpayers.\n\nMinisters defended the continued freeze on tax thresholds until 2031, saying the policy supports responsible funding of public services while keeping taxes as low as possible.\n\nOfficials also pointed to Britain's \"internationally high Personal Allowance\" and progressive tax structure as evidence the current system remains fair.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Treasury said additional support is being provided to lower-paid households through increases to the minimum wage and wider cost-of-living measures.\n\nSince April 2025, Labours has instructed the Low Pay Commission to take living costs into account when making minimum wage recommendations.\n\nSupport measures highlighted by ministers include 15 hours of funded childcare each week for parents of three and four-year-olds.\n\nEligible working parents with children aged from nine months old can also access 30 hours of funded childcare support.\n\nLabour said that Budget measures were also aimed at reducing pressure on household finances through lower energy bills and freezes on rail fares and NHS prescription charges.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Taxpayers dealt double blow as home working relief scrapped and £18,000 allowance rejected"
}