There are few certainties in life, with taxes being very much at the top of the list. However, for (ISC)² members in the UK, we have some good news for you on that front. From now on, members in the UK will be able to claim tax relief on their annual maintenance fee (AMF) in most cases.

We have been granted Approved Professional Organisations and Learned Societies status by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the UK’s tax, payments and customs authority. This status recognises (ISC)² among a select number of essential professional societies and bodies operating in the UK that share or advance professional knowledge, maintain or improve professional conduct and competence, or protect members from claims made against them while doing their job.

It is further recognition of our collective mission to inspire a safe and secure cyber world the value that (ISC)² membership and certification brings to the organisations that you, our members, work for as well as to the wider industry and society.

What does this mean for you?

You can claim tax relief on fees or subscriptions you pay to approved professional organisations, but only if you have membership or it relates to your job. This means that if you are a UK tax-paying member of (ISC)², you can claim tax relief on your AMFs – backdated to April 6, 2019 – provided that your membership is relevant to your current role and provided you pay your AMFs yourself.

You can find more about whether you are eligible for tax relief on your AMFs here: https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/professional-fees-and-subscriptions

If your employer pays your AMF for you, and pays it directly to (ISC)², you will not be able to claim tax relief on it.

You can claim tax relief for your (ISC)² AMF via the Government Gateway at https://www.access.service.gov.uk/login/signin/creds . You will need a Government Gateway user ID and password. If you do not have a user ID, you can create one when you register. Registering with Government Gateway usually takes about 10 minutes. It works best if you have your National Insurance number, a recent payslip or P60, or a valid UK passport to hand.

The learned societies and professional associations on the HMRC list are predominantly nonprofit organisations such as industry bodies, charter organisations and livery companies, as well as independent member associations that exist to raise standards and help their members. If you are a member of any other industry associations, it’s worth checking if they are also on the list, as you may be able to claim tax relief on those membership fees and subscriptions as well. The complete list of Approved Professional Organisations and Learned Societies can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/professional-bodies-approved-for-tax-relief-list-3