christmas party expenses

[ratewhore]

So, how does this sound?
I am the sole director and only employee of the company. My wife is the unsalaried company secretary.

I hold a party at my house (which is also my "principal place of work" and the company registered address) and I go to threshers and buy a couple of bottles of vintage champers (using the 40% discount that threshers are currently promoting) plus a load of nibbles from sainsburys.

I invite all the employees (me) and I accept.
The employee (me) invites a guest (his wife) and we stick on a CD and get sloshed in the front room.
The total bill comes to £299.
I submit an expense, and save the threshers/sainsburys receipts.

Does this sound reasonable?

Big flaw in your plan is that the Threshers discount doesn't extend to champers...

[gingerjedi]

But you dont actually get £150 paid back to your company just tax relief...saving about £30 (better than nought) or have i started the reclaim vs tax relief debate again

That's right it's like women’s sale logic, they somehow think they're better off because they have 'saved' money when they've actually spent some.

The company is still down £300 it just means they won't pay the tax that £300 would have incurred if it had been taken as salary or a dividend.

[Beefy198]

That's right it's like women’s sale logic, they somehow think they're better of because they have 'saved' money when they've actually spent some.

The number of times the wife and I have argued when she returns from the supermarket with her excellent "buy two get one free" deal on something we didn't really want/need

[TheFaQQer]

Does a unpaid company secretary count as a employee ? Seems madness to me that a company secretary wouldn't count but thought I would check...

Cheers

If they are salaried, then they are an employee. If they have a contract of employment, then they are an employee. If not, then they aren't included.

[badger7579]

Its actually an event per year, not just a Christmas party meaning you could have more than one event per year.

I believe its one guest per employed person and each can spend up to £150, anything over £150 each and the whole thing becomes a BIK.

I'm thinking of buying tickets for F1 or touring cars this year.

One question I have is the £150 including or excluding VAT?

Anyone know if the £150 includes VAT?

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

Yes. It includes VAT. And even if you aren't on the flat rate scheme, you can't claim it back.

[expat]

Does a unpaid company secretary count as a employee ? Seems madness to me that a company secretary wouldn't count but thought I would check...

Cheers

Why does it seem "madness" to you that someone who is not paid by the company would not count as an employee?

[TCL]

Is it a travelodge equidistant between London and Norwich?

No, its a Best Western in Gloucester

Whoosh!

[Ravello]

And why would you want to give 2 guests a freebie at your co's expense? Unless they are your kids I dont see the point. Neither do I see the point taking your client's HR \ Recruitment Manager or other pair of nob jockeys!

You're not exactly the sociable type though are you...

An alternative (fiscal) approach might be that if said 2 guests were paying their way in full you'd effectively gain 20% of their portion of the bill by claiming the expense back.

[blacjac]

You're not exactly the sociable type though are you...

An alternative (fiscal) approach might be that if said 2 guests were paying their way in full you'd effectively gain 20% of their portion of the bill by claiming the expense back.

You mean fraud?