I work in security, can I claim for my SIA licence?
Yes. Employees in the private security industry are normally expected to have an SIA licence and, in most cases, you won’t be reimbursed by your employer.
HMRC and the Security Industry Authority have negotiated an arrangement that means you can claim tax relief on the full cost of your SIA licence fee.
The SIA licence is normally renewed every three years and it’s best to claim for your tax relief as soon as you can, so you don’t lose out on getting your own money back.
The SIA licence fee isn’t all you can claim for…
Working in the security industry often means you have to pay for more than just your SIA licence fee.
The fact that you can claim for more than just your SIA licence doesn’t mean you have to complete three different forms.
Other expenses eligible for tax relief include:
- Your Public Space Surveillance (CCTV) licence.
- The cleaning of your work uniform.
- Driving to different work locations in your private vehicle, as required by your employer. For example a relief security guard traveling to a variety of different sites on a daily basis.
SIA licence tax rebate claim time limit
Tax rebates on your SIA licence fee and other work expenses can be backdated for the last four tax years only. It’s best to make a claim as soon as you can to ensure you don’t miss any deadlines.
How to claim your SIA tax rebate
Your claim must be made through HMRC either online or via a postal form. When HMRC received your SIA claim it will normally take about 8-12 weeks for them to reply and to confirm any tax rebate due. If you need help with your claim you can call HMRC on their support line.
