We are veterans so we know what service means
Service life can mean various financial situations
With decades f experience in the military at Forward Assist Finance we understand many of the unique financial challenges faced by military personnel and their spouses. Our services are tailored to ensure you can focus on your duties (both in and out of work) while we handle the paperwork.
On this page we take a look at some of the common claims we have dealt with over the years.
Temporary Workplace
Claim what you're entitled to while on deployment or at temporary postings.
Uniform Allowances
Ensure your claims for uniform maintenance are accurate and up to date.
Receipt Capture Solutions
Use software to track receipts whilst away ensuring you can claim back what you are entitled to on JPA and from HMRC.
Tax Bill Planning
Help with looking at future potential tax bills to stop those nasty surprises
Rental Income
Ended up needing to rent out a property? Track everything you need and report to HMRC with ease.
Spousal Sole Trader Income
Simplify self-employment bookkeeping and tax returns.
Loose Lips Sink Ships
There are a couple of things that we at Forward Assist Finance think you should all be aware of, even if you do not choose to use our services.
No win-no fee
There are a lot of no win-no fee claim firms that specialise in claiming expenses (majority of the time through P87 rather than Self-Assessment). These companies predominantly charge a large percentage of the claim (sometimes 50%). Recent investigations by HMRC into claims of this nature have resulted in lots of individuals having to repay some, or even all, of the claim. Not only did they have to find the money for this but their 'fee' paid to the claim firms were not offset. Effectively resulting in them out of pocket. Some have even had to cease trading due to poor practices resulting from their model that they are paid more if you claim more (encouraging over claiming).
It is important to point out that some services offered by these firms may be the most suitable for military personnel and therefore should be considered. However, it is our experience that a lot of the time the individuals already complete self-assessment (and therefore a P87 is normally not suitable) or the need to claim expenses is enduring during the service person's career and therefore a Bookkeeper is more suitable and better value.
Bar Chat
At lot of good information can come from chatting in the bar, however, financial advise should always be suitably checked by a professional. During our time in the military we have first hand witnessed:
Told categorically that an accountant had advised that unless property income deosn;t total £10,000 for the year then there are no tax considerations (this is NOT true).
Individual members of a unit investing a total of £30,000 whilst drunk because another member of the same unit said he had made some money from it.
An individual (claiming through a no win-no fee firm) constantly adjusted numbers they entered to online claim forms as 'it made the claim amount increase'. When he was informed this was fraud he believed he was protected by the fact the firm were acting on his behalf and he just thought he had worked out a way to 'make more money'.
Temporary Workplace
Temporary workplace expenses refer to costs incurred by employees who are required to work at a location that is not their permanent workplace for a limited period. These expenses may include travel, meals, accommodation, and other costs directly associated with the temporary posting.
For military personnel this often applies to deployments or assignments at training facilities (Phase 2 onwards) or deployments. Eligible individuals can claim through P87 or Self-Assessment depending on specific circumstances.
Uniform Allowances
In the UK, military personnel are entitled to Flat Rate Expense Allowances (FREAs) to cover costs associated with maintaining their uniforms. These allowance are automatically applied through the payroll system and vary by service branch.
However, if actual uniform maintenance expenses exceed standard allowance, or the service person completes a Self Assessment, personnel may be eligible to claim for the additional amount.
Receipt Capture Solutions
We know first hand how difficult it is to keep receipts whilst away from home. Between the team at Forward Assist Finance we must have tried dozens of different solutions but none really worked.
Depending on your situation, Forward Assist Finance will ensure you have an easy to use facility to capture all your receipts regardless of their purpose (JPA claim, Self-Assessment etc.). Don't miss out on that expense claim or tax deduction you are entitled to whilst serving your country.
Tax Bill Planning
Death and taxes. Both inevitable. And isn't it funny that your tax bill is never less than you expected?
We can help with planning for future tax years, which might also inform decisions in this one making efficient use of all allowances available.
Rental Income
Military personnel often find themselves as accidental landlords due to the demands of their career. Frequent relocations, deployments or short notice change of assignments can lead to situations where selling their home isn't feasible or practical. Navigating the complexities of rental income, tax obligations and property management whilst balancing the responsibilities of military service and family can be daunting.
Forward Assist Finance is here to offer a helping hand. We offer tailored bookkeeping and tax services, ensuring that rental income is accurately reported, expenses are properly tracked, and self-assessment returns are completed on time. See the Landlords section for more details.
Spousal Sole Trader
Military spouses often turn to self-employment due to the unique challenges of military life. Frequent relocations, unpredictable schedules and the need for flexibility make traditional employment difficult to sustain. However, this can be daunting and sometimes even prevents them from starting as a sole trader.
Forward Assist Finance provides expert support tailored to the needs of military spouses. We simplify bookkeeping, offer guidance on allowable expenses and ensure tax obligations are met, giving military spouses the confidence to start or grow their businesses while supporting their families.
All of our staff are:
Veterans
Accredited Landlords
With 10+ years experience
MICB
Qualified with Distinction (Hons)
