Staff training and courses

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by a Tolley Employment Tax expert
Employment Tax
Guidance

Staff training and courses

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by a Tolley Employment Tax expert
Employment Tax
Guidance
imgtext

Staff training and courses are a common benefit provided by employers to their staff. There are various ways in which staff training can be provided free of tax and NIC.

Work-related training

An exemption from tax and NIC for work-related training is provided by ITEPA 2003, ss 250–254 and SI 2001/1004, Sch 3, Pt VII, para 2. The exemption applies to both the costs of work-related training and related costs.

This exemption does not give employees tax relief for the costs of self-financed training where the cost of the training is not reimbursed by the employer. Self-financed training is addressed later in this guidance note.

HMRC guidance is at EIM01210 onwards. See Simon’s Taxes E4.737.

How does the method of provision of work-related training affect the exemption?

Where the exemption applies, the method of provision is not important. It is exempt whether it is provided:

  1. •

    as a benefit (ie where the employer provides the training themselves, or contracts and pays a third party to do so), or

  2. •

    as a reimbursement of expenses where the employee pays

Continue reading the full document
To gain access to additional expert tax guidance, workflow tools, generative tax AI, and tax research, register for a free trial of Tolley+™
TAKE A FREE TRIAL NOW
Powered by Tolley+™
  • 12 Jan 2026 12:00

Home/ Tolley Tax Guidance/ Employment Tax / Providing benefits to employees

Popular Articles

Trusts and Inheritance Tax

Winding up a trust ― legal, administrative and compliance issues

Winding up a trust ― legal, administrative and compliance issuesOverviewWhen winding up a trust, there are legal formalities and compliance issues that need to be dealt with, as well as IHT and CGT consequences that flow from the termination. This guidance note considers when and how a trust comes

14 Jul 2020 14:01 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more
Personal Tax

Self assessment ― estimates and provisional figures

Self assessment ― estimates and provisional figuresIf the taxpayer does not have sufficient information to enable them to complete the tax return in the time allowed, they should include either a best estimate or a provisional figure. The taxpayer should not either leave a box blank or enter

14 Jul 2020 13:37 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more
Owner-Managed Businesses

Capital allowances on cars

Capital allowances on carsSummary of capital allowances on carsThe current capital allowance rates applicable to cars are as follows:Pool typeDescription of carRateLegislationMain rate poolNew and unused cars with CO2 emissions of 50g/km and below 18%CAA 2001, s 104AASecondhand cars with CO2

14 Jul 2020 11:08 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more