Tax returns for security workers
If you work in the UK security industry, your Self Assessment tax return can include the allowable costs of your work. Whether you’re a full-time employee or a self-employed security professional, these can include:
- SIA licence application and renewal fees
- Work travel to temporary workplaces, at HMRC’s approved rates
- Required safety gear and professional training
What can be included in your tax return?
Your tax return can include work costs you’ve paid out of your own pocket and your employer hasn’t reimbursed. This applies to a wide range of roles, including:
- Security guards
- Door supervisors
- Close protection officers
- CCTV/public space surveillance operators
- Keyholding and mobile patrol staff
This applies whether you’re on PAYE or self-employed. The key is keeping track of your allowable expenses: costs HMRC considers essential for your job.
SIA licence fees in your tax return
If you’re working in security, chances are you need a valid SIA licence. It’s illegal to carry out most security work without one.
Typical SIA-related expenses you can include:
- £220 for your initial SIA licence application
- £220 for your renewal (every 3 years)
- Associated training costs (e.g., First Aid, industry-specific courses)
Other Allowable Expenses for Security Workers
You can include a variety of job-related costs in your tax return:
- Travel to temporary workplaces – by car, motorcycle, or public transport
- Professional body fees – including SIA and other industry memberships
- Tools and equipment essential to your role
What you’ll need for your tax return
HMRC may ask for proof of the costs in your return. You’ll need:
- List of all workplaces visited (with approximate dates)
- Receipts for SIA licence fees, required safety gear and travel costs
- Contract of employment(s) for the tax year
- Photo ID and proof of address
- Wage slips
- P60 or P45 forms
Tip: If you don’t have a Personal Tax Account (PTA), Zipp Tax can help you set one up for free. It keeps all your HMRC records in one secure place.
Required safety gear
Security work often involves protective gear that your job requires. Under PAYE rules, the cost of repairing or replacing required safety gear can be an allowable expense, but not its initial purchase cost.
Self-employed security workers, however, can include both purchase and upkeep costs through their Self Assessment tax return. This means you can offset these costs directly against your taxable profit.
If you prefer a simpler method, HMRC allows simplified expenses for the self-employed. This may give a slightly smaller deduction, but it cuts down on paperwork.
Self-Employed Security Worker Allowables
If you run your own security business, you’ll file a Self Assessment tax return each year. This allows you to include a wider range of expenses, including:
- Office costs – phone, stationery, admin tools
- Marketing – website, online ads, business cards
- Training courses – keeping skills up-to-date
- Equipment purchases and upkeep
- SIA licence fees
Why choose Zipp Tax for your security worker tax return?
- Industry specialists – We understand security work and HMRC’s rules.
- Every allowable expense checked by an accountant
- Hassle-free process – We prepare, submit, and chase HMRC on your behalf.
Start your tax return today
Tell us about your work. An accountant prepares your Self Assessment, includes the allowable costs of your job and files it with HMRC as your authorised agent.
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