Seafarers’ Tax Refund
What is Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction?
Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction (or SED) is a scheme available to certain individuals who work at sea. It is only available to people who work on ships that spend over 183 days per year outside the UK, and it does not include workers on oil rigs or stationary platforms. If you are eligible for Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction, you may be able to claim back up to 100% of the income tax you have paid in the UK.
On this page you will find information about:
If you work as a crew member on any form of ship, including passenger, cargo and fishing vessels, you may be eligible for Seafarers’ Earning Deduction.
In general, any crew member may claim SED, provided you get paid for the work you do on the ship. This includes stewards, entertainers, cooks or any form of operative crew.
Crown employees cannot claim SED, so Royal Navy personnel are not included.
In order to claim SED you must be usually resident in the UK or European Union, or certain other European states, and you must be a UK taxpayer.
During the relevant period, you must make at least one journey into or out of a foreign port (this includes non-UK offshore platforms). The relevant period can be any consecutive 365 days when you spend more than half of the time working on a ship.
If you have more than one job, you are usually eligible to claim SED on any work you do while on a ship at sea, but not on your earnings from other work.
A claim for Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction can be backdated up to four tax years with the 2008/2009 tax year currently being the last tax year eligible.
What information do I need?
You should also keep full records of relevant information, including travel tickets and receipts, visas, accommodation receipts, copies of ships’ freeboard logs.
How do I claim?
If you are a UK taxpayer, you can claim SED through your Self-Assessment Tax Return.
If you are not registered with HMRC to complete a Self Assessment Tax Return you should contact HMRC directly to allow for a Self Assessment record to be opened.
Residents of other European States should complete form R43M.
Helpful Seafarers Tax Information
If you think you may be eligible for Seafarers’ Earnings Deduction but want to double check,
you can complete HMRC form HS205
For further Tax Refund information, please follow the links below:
Tax Refunds by Employment
Healthcare Worker Tax Rebates includes:
Can I Claim Tax Relief for Professional Fees?
Can I Claim Tax Relief for the Cost of Shoes and Tights?
What about Tax Relief for Laundry Costs?
Can I claim Tax Relief for Business Mileage?
Can I claim Tax Relief for Specialist Equipment?Nurse Tax Refunds includes:
Nurse Tax relief for the cost of laundering of Uniform
Nurse Tax relief for the cost of shoes and tights
Nurse Tax relief for professional fees – RCN Tax, Unison Tax, NMC Tax
Nurse Tax Relief for use of own car or public transport for work purposesTeacher Tax Refunds includes:
Teacher Tax Relief for professional fees – NUT tax relief, NASUWT tax relief.
Teacher Tax Relief Books and Journals
Teacher Tax Relief for specialist clothing
Teacher Tax Relief for Equipment Purchased for Work Use
Teacher Tax Relief for qualifying travelling expenses- Tax Relief for Washing of Uniform includes:
Am I Eligible for Uniform Tax Relief for Washing Uniform?
What am I actually claiming back?
How much will I get from a Uniform Tax Relief claim?
Can I claim for any other Tax Relief? Mechanic Tax Claim Refunds includes:
Tool Tax relief– What are Flat Rate Expenses?
Tool Tax relief– What are Capital Allowances?
What About Tax Relief for Specialist Clothing?Tax Claim Refunds for Trades / Construction Industry Workers under PAYE includes:
Can I claim Tax Relief for Business Mileage?
Can I Claim Tax Relief for other using Public Transport?
What about Accommodation and Subsistence?
Tool Tax Refund: What are Flat Rate Expenses
Tool Tax Refund – What are Capital Allowances?
Can I Claim Tax Relief for Specialist Clothing?Doctor Tax Refunds includes:
Doctors Tax relief for professional fees
Doctors tax relief for Professional Indemnity Insurance
Doctor Tax Relief for business use of car
Tools and equipment purchased for work usePolice Tax Refunds includes:
Police Officers Tax Relief for the Cost Of Laundering Uniform
Police Tax Relief for the cost of Police Federation Fees
Police Tax Relief for Business use of own car or public transport for work purposesStudent Tax Refund includes:
If I am a student can I claim a Student Tax Refund?
What About if I work during the Summer?
Tax Refunds for Expenses
Business Mileage Tax Refunds includes:
What is Business Mileage?
What counts as a Temporary Workplace?
What are the Business Mileage Rate Allowances?
Travel Expenses – Can I claim any further Tax Relief?Travel Expenses Tax Refunds includes:
When can I claim tax relief (business mileage) for travel to a temporary workplace?
When can I claim tax relief (business mileage) for travelling to work in different locations?
If I use public transport can I claim tax relief for a travel card?
When can I claim tax relief for Subsistence and accommodation?
Do I need to use the cheapest transport or accommodation to claim tax relief?
Travel Expenses – How much can I claim?Subsistence Expenses Tax Refunds includes:
What Is Subsistence?
What Is A Temporary Workplace?
Do I Need Records?
My Employer Reimburses Me Can I Still Claim?Tools for Work Use Tax Refunds includes:
Tools Tax – When am I Eligible for Tax Relief on Tools, Equipment and Specialist Clothing?
Tools Tax – What are Flat Rate Expenses?
Tax relief for tools – What are Capital Allowances?
What About Tax Relief for Specialist Clothing?
Tax Refunds for Tax Code
Income Tax Code Refund includes:
How do I know if my tax code is wrong?
How do I reclaim a Tax Code Tax Refund?
Tax Refunds for Left The UK
Left or Leaving the UK Tax Claim Refunds includes:
When am I entitled to leaving the UK tax back?
How much UK tax back can I receive?
Do I need to complete Tax Claim Forms when leaving the UK?
Do I need to complete a Self Assessment Tax Return?UK Non Resident Tax Refunds includes:
What is Non-Resident Status?
What is a Double Taxation Agreement?
What sort of UK Income is eligible for tax relief?
How do I apply for UK Non-Resident Tax Relief?
Do I need to Complete a Self Assessment Form?UK Non Resident Landlords Tax Refunds includes:
What is the UK Non Resident Landlord Scheme?
What if the property is administered by Letting Agents?
Can I claim Tax Relief for Property Expenses?
How does the Non Resident Landlord Scheme affect my Tax payments?
Do I need to complete a Self Assessment Tax Return?
How does other income affect my tax allowance?
CIS Tax Refunds
CIS Tax Refunds includes:
What is a CIS Tax Refund?
How do I get a CIS Tax Refund?
What is the average CIS Tax Refund?
Should I fill in my Tax Return myself or use an Accountant?
CIS Tax Refunds – important to know
Other Tax Refunds
Car Tax Refund includes:
Can I get a refund on my Car Tax/Vehicle Tax?Council Tax Rebate includes:
Can I claim a Council Tax rebate?Gift Aid includes:
What is Gift Aid?
What kind of Donations Apply to Gift Aid?
Gift Aid Claim Tax Refund!
How Do I make a Gift Aid Claim?NI Refund includes:
For the Employed
Missing National Insurance Years
National Insurance Refund if you have left the UK
Class 1 National Insurance and the State Pension Scheme
National Insurance Refund for the Self EmployedVAT Refund includes:
VAT Refund for Individuals
VAT Refund if you live in the EU
VAT Refund if you live outside the EU
VAT Refund if you work or study in the UK but live outside the EU
VAT Refund for Business
