Sony PS3 on expenses

[Bengal]

Does it have to be though? Permies are frequently allowed to take 'their company laptop' home and use them for web-browsing. Some companies allow permies to make personal calls on the office phone system, or use the PCs for personal stuff (browsing, playing games) at lunch time.

Is the "100% business use" thing directly from law, or something HMRC use to stop contractors taking the piss at their discretion?

I take your point but HMRC will not see it that way and to try and beat them down will cost a fortune.

There are different rules for different types of workers. The use of a company owned laptop to browse the web or whatever else by a permie, is not regarded a taxable benefit on the employee provided the main purpose of providing the equipment is business related. The employee cannot claim a tax deduction for it but the employer can as clearly it is a buisness expense for a company.

In the case of a PS3, lets face it, its primary purpose is to play games and watching blu-ray movies all of which I would suggest fall more ion the personal side of things rather then the business side of things. That siad, if your buisness is game console design and manufacturing or game development then you might have an arguement for a deduction but again the development side of things would need to be for that particular games console.

[Fred Bloggs]

Why are you all bullying me? Its not my fault I am new. I genuinely wanted to know what the ramifications of 'polishing' my tax liabilities are.

I got two (fairly vague) answers so thanks for those; to the others I suggest you get a girlfriend.

Frankly, if you're not a professional PS3 developer, then IMO the very question itself is simply stupid. HMRC's rules on "wholly and exclusively for business use" are pretty simple, no?

[BoredBloke]

A simple test is this.

Are you a M.P? If not then these kind of things are not allowed because you have to play by the rules. However if you are a M.P. then expense it as you make up the rules and can do what you like. Also buy yourself an X Box, PSP and a Wii while you are at it for your second or third home. There is a special MP game out there called Moat Cleaner 4 & the secret of duck island which you could easily get through.

[Bengal]

A simple test is this.

Are you a M.P? If not then these kind of things are not allowed because you have to play by the rules. However if you are a M.P. then expense it as you make up the rules and can do what you like. Also buy yourself an X Box, PSP and a Wii while you are at it for your second or third home. There is a special MP game out there called Moat Cleaner 4 & the secret of duck island which you could easily get through.

Love it!