Design Society UK Members - Income Tax Relief

The Design Society (DS) has been approved by the Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs under Section 344 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 allowing UK taxpayers to claim tax relief on professional membership fees with effect from 6 April 2022. 

You can claim tax relief on:

• professional membership fees, if you must pay the fees to be able to do your job
• annual subscriptions you pay to approved professional bodies or learned societies if being a member of that body or society is relevant to your job

You cannot claim tax relief on life membership subscriptions, or for professional membership fees or annual subscriptions you:

• have not paid yourself (for example if your employer has paid for them)
• have paid to professional organisations that are not approved by HMRC

UK taxpayers who are DS members are applicable to claim tax back on their DS membership fees through self-employment tax returns or the 'claim your expenses online' form. 

The individual member must be employed in the profession that is represented by the organisation that they pay their subscriptions to. Members can get tax relief on the full annual subscription at the highest rate of tax they pay on their earnings (20% for basic rate taxpayers, 40% for higher rate taxpayers and 45% for additional rate taxpayers). 

To learn more visit: gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/professional-fees-and-subscriptions