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For a successful business, you need a viable business idea, the skills to make it work and the funding. Discover whether your idea has what it takes.

Forming your business correctly is essential to ensure you are protected and you comply with the rules. Learn how to set up your business.

Advice on protecting your wellbeing, self-confidence and mental health from the pressures of starting and running a business.

Learn why business planning is an essential exercise if your business is to start and grow successfully, attract funding or target new markets.

It is likely you will need funding to start your business unless you have your own money. Discover some of the main sources of start up funding.

Businesses and individuals must account for and pay various taxes. Understand your tax obligations and how to file, account and pay any taxes you owe.

Businesses are required to comply with a wide range of business laws. We introduce the main rules and regulations you must comply with.

Marketing matters. It drives sales and helps promote your brand and products. Discover how to market your business and reach your target customers.

Some businesses need a high street location whilst others can be run from home. Understand the key factors from cost to location, size to security.

Your employees can your biggest asset. They can also be your biggest challenge. We explain how to recruitment and manage staff successfully.

It is likely your business could not function without some form of IT. Learn how to specify, buy, maintain and secure your business IT.

Few businesses manage the leap from start up to high-growth business. Learn what it takes to scale up and take your business to the next level.

It's not too late to claim tax relief for working from home

29 June 2021

The government is urging employees that have had to work from home during the pandemic to claim tax relief via the HMRC online portal.

Employees who have worked from home during the pandemic can claim tax relief on household expenses for this tax year. Since April, almost 800,000 employees who have been working from home during the pandemic have already claimed tax relief on household-related costs for the year 2021/2022 according to HMRC.

The saving is worth up to £125 per year for each employee; eligible workers can claim the full year's entitlement if they have been told to work from home by their employer, even if it has been for one day during the tax year.

Employees who have either returned to working in an office since early April or are preparing for their return can still claim the working from home tax relief and benefit from the full year's relief for the 2021 to 2022 tax year by claiming via HMRC's online portal.

Any employees who were required to work from home during the 2020 to 2021 tax year but did not claim for the tax relief have not missed out either. HMRC will accept backdated claims for up to four years and tax-payers will receive a lump sum payment for any successful backdated claims.

Employees must apply directly themselves (agents cannot use the online portal to apply on a customer's behalf). Once an application has been approved, their tax code will be automatically adjusted for the relevant tax year and they will receive the tax relief directly through their salary.

"More people are getting back to office working now, but it's not too late to apply for tax relief on household expenses if they've been working from home during the pandemic," said Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's director general for customer services.

Since April last year, the maximum amount employers have been able to pay tax-free without employees having to provide evidence of an increased bill was set at £6 a week. Employees who have not received the working from home expenses payment direct from their employer can apply to receive the tax relief from HMRC. If an employee completes an annual tax return, they can apply for the tax relief via their Self Assessment tax return.

Written by Rachel Miller.