Tax authorities in the UK allow a deduction on your UK tax return for some of your day-to-day living expenses, if the UK is considered your 'temporary' workplace - that is, if your assignment in the UK is due to last for no more than two years.

If your assignment is subsequently extended beyond two years, you can only claim travel and expenses relief up until the date it is decided that your assignment will be extended.

Items eligible for this relief include:

• Rental and housing payments
• Council tax and utility expenses
• Travel costs to and from work
• Personal subsistence expenses (grocery and restaurant costs).

In all cases, only your portion of the costs may be deductible, not that of accompanying family members

To claim relief for your living expenses, you'll need to keep a record of all the personal expenses you incur while you're in the UK.

However, if your employer already pays or reimburses any of these expenses, you won't be able to include these costs in your claim.

Records, such as receipts and bank statements, for items on which you intend to claim relief should be retained for at least 12 months after your UK tax return has been filed. You'll need them if the UK tax authorities audit your claim.

Since your employer is paying your UK taxes while you're on assignment in the UK, any relief available as a result of your claim will benefit your employer.