Your Guide to Working From Home!
Thousands of Irish employees are now working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For many employees, this is a brand new experience.
With this in mind, we've put together a handy guide to working from home!
In this blog, we'll outline 6 top tips that every home worker should know.
So let's get into it!
Stick to your normal routine
Sure, you might not have to go into the office for the time being, but it's still a good idea to stick to your usual routine as much as you can.
Head to bed at the time you usually do and set your alarm the way you normally would have if you were commuting.
Then in the morning, why not use the time you would have spent commuting to exercise or go for a walk?
Keep the kids busy
If you have kids in the house, it's important to keep them in a routine.
Exercise, study and chores can all form part of their daily schedule. A couple of hours of TV can work a treat too!
This will keep them busy and allow you to get your work done.
Maintain Regular Hours
According to a recent Taxback.com customer survey, almost half of Irish workers feel pressure to work outside of office hours.
The survey found that 47% of respondents work or check emails outside of office hours.
It is important to try to maintain regular work hours and keep your work-life balance intact.
Be sure to take your breaks during the day. Go on your lunch at the same time you usually do in the office.
And try to finish up as early as you can in the evening. It's always a good idea to set aside some time to relax in the evening.
Keep in touch with your colleagues
Loneliness and isolation can become serious factors in remote work life.
Try to utilize video and chat platforms – such as zoom or Skype to keep in touch with your colleagues during the day.
By getting a little creative, you can have a lot of fun!
Anyone up for a Zoom quiz at lunch?!
Take your annual leave
Even if it is literally for a holiday at home, it's still important to use your annual leave.
Taking a break is a must as it's a much needed opportunity to relax, refresh and step away from the busy working world.
Keep your utility receipts. They might be worth a lot of money!
Did you know that thousands of home workers across Ireland are entitled to claim tax relief?
It's true!
If you work from home, you can claim tax back in IE on utilities like your electricity, heating and broadband.
In short, your employer can choose to pay €3.20 tax-free a day to employees who work from home.
The aim of this payment is to cover the additional costs incurred by working from home.
But it's important to keep in mind that your employer does not have a legal obligation to provide this payment. If you don't receive the payment from your employer, you can claim the tax relief yourself by simply calculating your total costs and the amount of your time (as a percentage) you spend working from home.
You can find out everything you need to know about e-worker tax relief in our complete guide here.
Who can help me to claim my tax entitlements?
When you apply with Taxback.com you are guaranteed to receive your maximum tax refund.
In fact, our average Irish refund is €1,880 so it's definitely worth claiming back what you're owed.
Our team will ensure you avail of every tax relief you're entitled to including medical and dental expenses, flat rate expenses, home carer's tax credit and much more.
Why apply with Taxback.com?
Simple application process - no complicated forms
We'll claim your tax back from the last four years
Refund transferred straight to your bank account
Got tax questions? Our Live Chat team will support you 24/7
The average Irish tax refund is €1,880
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