TSF4 Form: How to Claim Travel and Expenses for Employment Tribunal Attendance

Last updated: March 2026

Quick Answer

Form TSF4 is the HMCTS expenses claim form for parties and witnesses who have incurred costs attending an employment tribunal hearing. It covers travel expenses, overnight accommodation, other specified expenses, and loss of earnings (maximum £45 per day). Claims must be submitted within one month of the hearing. Important: HMCTS only reimburses expenses for claims presented on or before 6 April 2012. The scheme was abolished for later claims.

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Obsolescence warning: The TSF4 expenses scheme was abolished for claims filed after 6 April 2012. If your claim was presented after that date, HMCTS will not reimburse attendance expenses. This guide is retained as a reference for legacy cases and historical completeness.

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Section 1: Your Details

Enter your surname, first name(s), home address, postcode, and telephone number. This identifies you as the person claiming expenses. Ensure the details match those held by the tribunal.

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Section 2: The Hearing

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Section 3: Total Claim and Declaration

Transfer the totals from Sections 6–9 into this summary section. Sign and date the declaration confirming the information is correct. Warning: false claims may lead to prosecution.

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Section 4: Method of Payment

Choose between:

• Direct bank payment (complete Section 5 with your bank details)
• Crossed cheque sent by post

Direct bank payment is faster and is the recommended option.

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Section 5: Bank Details

Only complete if you selected direct bank payment. Provide: bank or building society name and address, account name, account number, and sort code.

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Section 6: Travel Expenses

Key rules for travel claims:

• Only travel costs in excess of £5 are reimbursed (unless attendance was ordered by the tribunal)
• Public transport is limited to standard class fares
• Taxi fares are reimbursed only in exceptional circumstances — you need a valid receipt and written reasons
• Car or motorcycle travel is paid at 15p per mile (no reimbursement for parking, tolls, congestion charges, or passenger supplements)
• Complete the table: From, To, Method of travel, and Fares/Mileage for each journey
• Deduct the first £5 from the total travel cost, then transfer the net claim to Section 3

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Section 7: Overnight Expenses

If you had to stay away from home overnight to attend the hearing:

• All claims must be accompanied by receipts and are subject to HMCTS limits
• Provide the dates and times of your journey (start and return)
• State the cost of overnight accommodation
• Ask the tribunal clerk for details of the applicable limit — rates vary

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Section 8: Other Expenses

HMCTS may reimburse certain specified expenses, including:

• Essential medical reports directed by an Employment Judge
• Registered childminder fees incurred as a direct result of attendance

Consult the tribunal clerk for applicable limits and what qualifies.

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Section 9: Loss of Earnings

The maximum claimable is £45 per day. There are two routes:

• Employed persons — provide your occupation, time lost, hourly rate, and the amount claimed. Your employer must sign the statement at the bottom confirming you were not paid for the time off and that no paid leave was taken
• Self-employed persons — complete and attach Form T439 (Self-Employed Loss of Earnings Declaration) with supporting evidence

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Section 10: Submission

Return the completed form to the tribunal office that heard the case. Retain a copy for your records. Claims should be submitted within one month of the hearing date.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Claiming without attaching receipts — all expenses must be evidenced
2. Forgetting the first £5 deduction from travel expenses
3. Not obtaining the employer's signature for employed persons' lost earnings
4. Missing the one-month deadline after the hearing
5. Applying for claims filed after 6 April 2012 — the scheme does not cover these

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How BundleCreator Helps

Preparing for the hearing itself? BundleCreator's employment tribunal bundle templates include all the practitioner documents you need — chronology, witness statements, skeleton arguments, and schedules of loss — automatically formatted and indexed to tribunal standards.

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Related Articles

• T439 Form: Self-Employed Expenses Declaration
• ET1 Claim Form: Complete Guide
• Employment Tribunal Time Limits
• Employment Tribunal Bundle Guide

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This article provides general information about employment tribunal procedures in England and Wales. It is not legal advice, and BundleCreator.co is not a law firm and does not provide legal services. Before submitting any documents to the Employment Tribunal, you should seek guidance from a qualified legal representative such as a solicitor, barrister, or trade union representative. Free initial advice may also be available from Citizens Advice, ACAS, or your local Law Centre.