Losing Receipts

[oxtailsoup]

Now and again when I go through my receipts at the end of the month I discover that I have lost a few smaller receipts, usually for taxi to and from the airport (circa £20 each way).

If I have lost the receipt can I still claim the expense (writing a note in lieu of receipt) for the taxi fare and just staple it to the taxi business card? Or is this a not allowed?

[malvolio]

Now and again when I go through my receipts at the end of the month I discover that I have lost a few smaller receipts, usually for taxi to and from the airport (circa £20 each way).

If I have lost the receipt can I still claim the expense (writing a note in lieu of receipt) for the taxi fare and just staple it to the taxi business card? Or is this a not allowed?

Not sure of the full legals, but if you can provide another proof of purchase like a CC slip or a cheque then it shouldn't be a problem. However, if it was a cash transaction and you don't have a receipt there is no audit trail and strictly speaking you shouldn't claim it.

[Sockpuppet]

Same here. I lost 2 reciepts. 1 small (£10) 1 large (£200).

The advice from the accountant was claim as an expense as they were both on CC statements and ovbious (staples and insight) plus I printed out the on-line receipts.

He did however say not to claim the VAT as you had no VAT receipt for them.

Works for me.

[oxtailsoup]

Unfortunately mine were just cash to the taxi drivers.

The taxi driver gave me a number of blank taxi receipts this morning because he knows he takes me to the airport most weeks.

The thing is that if I look at the past receipts they are almost illegible, they are hardly ever filled out properly (i.e. to/from, date etc). Most just have the amount scribbled on.

[Billy Pilgrim]

Write loads of them out left handed - using different pens - jobs a good un

[r0bly0ns]

The advice I have had from my account on loosing receipts for cash purchases was to claim them anyway, but as said above they can't be used for VAT calculations.

As long as it is not a regular thing, and not for massive ammounts HMRC expect that a few receipts will get lost now and then.

[xoggoth]

If you do get an investigation, IR really don't have time to go through umpteen receipts for small items. Even if they did notice and if it was a reasonable expense (especially if other items show you did actually go the airport etc.) I cannot imagine they would be bothered, they are not that anal. It is the big stuff they want to screw you on.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

The advice I have had from my account on loosing receipts for cash purchases was to claim them anyway, but as said above they can't be used for VAT calculations.

As long as it is not a regular thing, and not for massive ammounts HMRC expect that a few receipts will get lost now and then.

There's no VAT on Taxi travel so surely VAT doesn't arise in this case?

[NotAllThere]

There's also the argument that if they find some small things, they'll go away happy. If everything is perfect, they'll be suspicious and really dig.

[TheFaQQer]

I claim it, and document it that I'm missing the receipt.

If you're on FRS then you don't need to worry about the VAT. If you're not, then you shouldn't claim the VAT back without a VAT receipt.