Care Workers Charity partners with tax scheme to help care workers paying too much tax

The Care Workers Charity (CWC) has partnered with Care Worker Tax Rebate to raise awareness among social care workers who may be paying too much tax.

Care Worker Tax Rebate was formed in 2012 to help care workers from paying too much income tax to HM Revenue & Customs. Since it was formed, it has refunded £15m to home care workers and has helped more than 20,000 people make a claim.

Skills for Care estimates there are 450,000 direct care providing jobs in domiciliary care services. Many workers drive between homes of clients and could possibly be missing out on tax breaks related to fuel, laundry, or food costs.

Karolina Gerlich, CWC executive director, said: “We are happy to be working with Care Worker Tax Rebate. The partnership is a natural fit as we are both helping care workers and doing so in different ways which can only be a good thing.

“Now, more than ever care workers must be valued and respected. If the social care workforce is appreciated, everyone benefits from service users to family and friends.”

Care Worker Tax Rebate was founded by two chartered accountants. The initial idea came when one of the founders helped his aunt to claim back over £500 from HMRC. Now the company has over 40 chartered accountants ready to help care workers claim any money owing to them.

'We are proud to agree a partnership with CWC’

One care worker said: “I’ve been caring for two years. As we are all aware, we do long hours and the money’s not always great. I found out I can get a tax rebate on petrol and uniforms I have to use to do my daily job.

“They explain things in terms that people can understand, and they did all the hard work by helping me fill out all the forms. The phone conversations I had with them on several occasions were very friendly.

“It was all straightforward, and the cheque arrived when they said it would arrive. I would recommend to other people and I will be using them again in the near future.”

Care Worker Tax Rebate is the UK’s only firm of chartered accountants dedicated to supporting the professional care workers’ community.

Conrad Edwards, Care Worker Tax Rebate operations director, said: “Care workers have been on the front line during the Covid-19 pandemic and need everyone’s support.

“We are proud to agree a partnership with CWC which allows our business to put something back into the care worker community.”

The two organisations will be working together to create campaigns to raise awareness and engagement so more care workers can be supported.