Can someone please clarify rules around subsistence - meal allowance

[jmo21]

Op, are you working away from home?

[Cappy]

Op, are you working away from home?

Yes, at the client's site (cca 45-60mins away, which in London is average commuting distance)

[Cappy]

Thank you for all the responses. I'll send the hyperlink with the HMRC's comment that one of you have kindly provided (thanks!!!) and see what she says.

[malvolio]

More utter nonsense. Who are the accountants giving out this crap advice? Citation needed I think but HMRCs own guidance makes it pretty clear (see above).

The fact that you could bring lunch is irrelevant.

No it isn't. To reduce it to its minimum, if you go home at night, you shouldn't claim lunch without risking it being challenged.

And as has been said, for the peanuts money involved - an average 28p a day - why even bother.

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

28p?

My lunch working in London costs me on average £10, that's £2 a day at basic rate. It all adds up.

The rules couldn't be much clearer. Any meals bought in the course of a business journey or while attending a temporary workplace are allowable costs for an employee.

The fact you could bring a packed lunch has no bearing on this whatsoever. If you want to save money and bring lunch (which you cannot claim for) then knock yourself out!

[Cappy]

28p?

My lunch working in London costs me on average £10, that's £2 a day at basic rate. It all adds up.

The rules couldn't be much clearer. Any meals bought in the course of a business journey or while attending a temporary workplace are allowable costs for an employee.

Yep, the same here unfortunately.....that's why I wanted to find out how other contractors are dealing with this. Thanks for your input Programmer!

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

Just noticed OP is using SJD.

Perhaps you could point them to their own advice!

Contractor Expenses Guide - What Can I Claim As a Contractor With My Own Limited Company

You can claim actual meal costs whilst you are working at a remote site, away from your normal place of work, or when staying away from home overnight, but daily, round sum claims for meals are not permitted.

[VillageContractor]

Interesting - I got the same advice from SJD earlier in the year. I started a thread a while ago about this and the consensus was that you could claim if you stayed away from home.

[malvolio]

Interesting - I got the same advice from SJD earlier in the year. I started a thread a while ago about this and the consensus was that you could claim if you stayed away from home.

Which is what I said. If you're not staying away from home, the "wholly and exclusively" limitation can't apply, so lunch ceases to be claimable.

It's a novel concept to some, but it's called "being reasonable". Also it stops HMRC (and HMG in general) seeing us as only being interested in not paying taxes by whatever convoluted mechanism we think applies, and so helps persuade them that we use OurCos for legitimate business reasons, not just as a way to get freebies.

[Cappy]

To update you: I've heard back from the accountant again (SJD) - she's adamant that lunches can't be claimed when working at client's site.