How Much Can I Claim for Laundry Expenses Self-Employed UK?

Laundry expenses are one of those areas that cause a lot of confusion for self employed people. I regularly speak to sole traders who are either not claiming anything at all because they are unsure, or claiming far too much because they assume everyday clothing counts as a business expense. Unfortunately, HMRC sits firmly in the middle, and the rules are stricter than many people expect.

In this article, I want to explain clearly how laundry expenses work for self employed people in the UK, what you can and cannot claim, how much you can realistically claim, and how to do it in a way that is compliant with HMRC rules. This is based on current guidance and on what I see in practice when reviewing tax returns and dealing with HMRC queries.

The Key Rule HMRC Uses for Laundry Expenses

The starting point is simple but important.

HMRC only allows expenses that are incurred wholly and exclusively for business purposes. This rule applies to all expenses, including laundry.

That means the clothing being washed must be required for your work and not suitable for everyday wear. If the clothing has a personal element, even if you only wear it for work, HMRC will usually disallow the cost.

This single rule explains why so many laundry claims are rejected.

What Type of Clothing Laundry Is Allowable

Laundry costs are only allowable if they relate to specialist work clothing or protective clothing.

In practical terms, this usually includes:

• Protective clothing such as overalls, safety boots, gloves, or high visibility wear
• Uniforms that clearly identify a business, such as branded workwear
• Specialist clothing required for the role, for example chefs’ whites or medical scrubs

If the clothing is something you could reasonably wear outside of work, HMRC treats it as ordinary clothing, even if you never actually wear it socially.

From experience, this is the point most people disagree with, but it is well established in UK tax law.

What Clothing Laundry You Cannot Claim

You cannot claim laundry costs for normal everyday clothing.

This includes:

• Suits
• Shirts and blouses
• Trousers
• Dresses
• Shoes that are not protective
• Gym wear used for personal training work

Even if the clothing is only worn for work, even if clients expect a certain appearance, and even if it wears out faster because of work, HMRC still considers it personal.

Laundry for these items is not allowable.

How Much Can You Claim for Laundry Expenses

There is no fixed HMRC allowance specifically for laundry in the way there is for mileage. Instead, the amount you can claim depends on how you calculate it.

There are two common approaches.

Claiming Actual Laundry Costs

If you use a launderette or a cleaning service specifically for work clothing, you can usually claim the actual cost, provided it relates only to allowable clothing.

You should keep receipts and record:

• The cost
• The date
• What the laundry related to

This approach is straightforward where work clothing is cleaned separately.

Using a Reasonable Estimate at Home

If you wash work clothing at home, HMRC allows you to claim a reasonable proportion of household costs, but this must be justifiable.

There is no official flat rate for laundry alone. Instead, you would estimate the additional cost caused by washing work clothing, such as:

• Extra washing machine use
• Additional electricity and water
• Detergent used for work clothing

In practice, many sole traders claim a modest annual amount rather than trying to calculate every wash. This might be a small monthly figure that reflects additional use rather than full household laundry.

From my experience, realistic claims are usually accepted. Inflated or vague claims are more likely to be questioned.

Laundry Expenses and the Simplified Expenses Method

Some self employed people use HMRC’s simplified expenses method for home working.

It is important to understand that simplified expenses cover household running costs like heat and electricity for business use of home. They do not automatically cover laundry.

Laundry is only included if it relates to allowable work clothing. You cannot use simplified expenses to justify claiming normal clothes washing.

This is a common misunderstanding I see when reviewing returns.

How Laundry Expenses Should Be Recorded

Laundry expenses should be recorded as part of your business expenses under clothing or protective clothing costs.

You should keep:

• Receipts where available
• Notes explaining what the expense relates to
• A consistent method year to year

If HMRC ever asks questions, being able to explain clearly what you claimed and why matters far more than the exact figure.

Common Mistakes I See

Based on my experience, there are a few mistakes that come up repeatedly.

One is claiming laundry for everyday clothes such as suits or smart casual wear. Another is claiming large round figures with no explanation. I also see people assume that because their job requires them to look presentable, the cost must be allowable.

HMRC does not accept that argument.

The safest approach is always to ask one question. Would I still incur this cost if I did not run the business. If the answer is yes, it is probably not allowable.

What Happens if HMRC Challenges the Claim

Laundry expenses are rarely challenged on their own, but they often come up as part of a wider review.

If HMRC does ask, they will usually want to know:

• What clothing the laundry relates to
• Why it is required for the business
• How the amount was calculated

Reasonable, well explained claims are usually accepted. Aggressive claims often lead to adjustments.

How an Accountant Helps With Laundry Expense Claims

An accountant’s role here is not to maximise the number at all costs. It is to make sure the claim is correct and defensible.

In my work, I often help clients understand whether a claim is valid in the first place, and if so, what a sensible amount looks like. This avoids problems later and gives confidence that the return is compliant.

Key takeaways

If you are self employed in the UK, you can only claim laundry expenses for specialist or protective work clothing. Everyday clothing, no matter how work related it feels, does not qualify.

There is no fixed allowance, so the amount you can claim must be reasonable and justifiable. In practice, this usually means a modest figure that reflects the additional cost of washing allowable workwear.

From my experience, laundry expenses are not about maximising deductions, they are about getting it right. A small, correct claim is always better than a large one that does not stand up to scrutiny.