Tri-Service

Unexpected Tax Refunds For Current And Former Military Personnel

“As well as spending some of the money on having a really good Christmas, it also went towards some home improvements; it was incredibly handy and meant a lot to me and the family.”

More and more of the UK’s Armed Forces community are enjoying tax refunds averaging £2,500 after realising they are eligible to claim for travel expenses incurred whilst serving.

Thousands of the forces community are using the cash rebates for everything from supporting their family, investing in their future to treating themselves and their loved ones to a once in a lifetime holiday experience.

The huge spike in the number of refunds can be attributed to increasing awareness of confirmation from the MOD that both current and ex-service personnel are able to reclaim overpaid taxes from HMRC. What’s more, you don’t have to do the paperwork yourself as the claim can be made on your behalf.

The MOD’s ruling applies to anyone who travels to base, using either their own vehicle or public transport, and has been posted to different temporary bases for 24 months or less since April 2011, including overseas bases. It’s also possible to claim for Mess Dress.

“People are shocked to hear that over £180 million goes unclaimed each year in travel expenses,” says Jan Post, managing director at RIFT Tax Refunds, the UK’s largest tax refund specialists.

“In the 15 years we’ve been operating we’ve managed to claim back over £20 million in taxes for Armed Forces personnel alone. That’s a huge amount of money. But I can assure you millions more has never been applied for as lots of people are simply unaware they’ve overpaid.”

The good news for those who think they may have a claim is it’s free to find out if you are eligible. Even if you already have Get You Home (GYH) of Home to Duty Travel (HDT) allowance, you are still likely to be able to apply.

Why you are never too busy to claim

“We know that military life is hectic” says Jan. “And that after a tough day’s work, the last thing anyone feels like doing is burning the midnight oil filling out tax returns or trying to understand complex mileage allowances.

“That’s why we go out of our way to makes things as easy as possible. If you haven’t got a printer, we’ll post you the forms you need. Can’t make a call? We’ll email you or even contact you via Facebook. If you can make a call but have no internet, we can fill out the forms for you over the phone. And we can keep you updated by text on the progress of your claim if you can’t talk during working hours.”

If you prefer, RIFT can work with a family member to help complete your application if you are too busy or away from home for long periods. This means that getting your refund won’t have to wait until you have time off to complete the paperwork.

RIFT is so confident in the accuracy and thoroughness of their claims, that they offer their unique RIFT Guarantee.

“Having that reassurance made me more comfortable with the process” said a recent client. “It was good to know that I was able to invest my refund into things important to me and my family and not have to worry about having possibly got my paperwork wrong and being out of pocket at a later date. That security persuaded me I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

“Don’t make the mistake of neglecting your taxes and letting your hard earned money go to the taxman,” says Jan. “If you overpaid for something in a shop, you’d ask for your money back. This is no different. It’s not about claiming something for free; it’s simply getting back what was always yours to begin with.”

If you want to find out more, get in touch by calling 01233 628648 or by visiting RIFT Tax Refunds.

RIFT supporting The Soldiers’ Charity

RIFT’s work with military personnel over the years has led to the Kent based company becoming closely involved with The Soldiers’ Charity (formerly The Army Benevolent Fund). For every MOD tax refund RIFT carries out, it donates £10 to the charity.

“We are extremely proud to support The Soldiers’ Charity,” says Jan. “As well as the donation we make for every completed refund process, we also carry out a range of fundraising activities and sponsorship on their behalf.”

The Soldiers’ Charity gives support to serving and retired soldiers and their families, providing financial assistance in times of need.

“At present we are thrilled to be supporting former army man Olly Clark who is part of a two man team rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic to raise money for The Soldiers’ Charity,” explains Jan. “At RIFT we want to give a little back for those who’ve sacrificed so much for us.”