contracting and divorce

[richard101]

Hi All

re: expences

My accountant says I should pay for my train/tube ticket (to a 6-month contract), then put through an expences claim to my Ltd company - with added VAT.

My bbank (Cater Allen) will supply plastic if I want to use that instead - paying directly from there.

I divorced recently - and - although I'm happy to pay child-maintenance (which was 25% of my net income when I was perm'), I would like it to be my choice.

What figures do the CS A use to calculate this for Ltd Companies please?

[Craig@Clarity]

Hi All

re: expences

My accountant says I should pay for my train/tube ticket (to a 6-month contract), then put through an expences claim to my Ltd company - with added VAT.

My bbank (Cater Allen) will supply plastic if I want to use that instead - paying directly from there.

There is no VAT on train travel. You can either pay for the train/tube personally and have your company reimburse you for it or like your accountant says, have the bbank pay for it directly using plastic.

[northernladuk]

I divorced recently - and - although I'm happy to pay child-maintenance (which was 25% of my net income when I was perm'), I would like it to be my choice.

What figures do the CS A use to calculate this for Ltd Companies please?

Isn't it your money the CSA is interested in, not the LTD companies one? I seem to remember when this was mentioned before they can take in to account all income inc divis. I would guess what money the LTD has is none of their business but I can't remember.

Try a search on divorce or maintenance as this does come up from time to time and has been some long discussions on the ins and outs

[GillsMan]

On the CSA thing, they look at your monthly salary. If your ex-wife specifically asks, they will take into account your dividend payments as well.

I'm recently separated so have been looking into all of this, and we've drawn up a Deed of Trust, which sets out how much I have to pay each month. It's more than the CSA would make me pay, but it also has a clause saying that the agreement is only for six months, when it gets reviewed again. That way, if I do have serious time on the bench, I can always lower the maintenance payments.

Of course, this isn't always possible if the break-up isn't amicable, but if it is possible I think it's best to have a flexible agreement rather than using the CSA.

[ASB]

On the CSA thing, they look at your monthly salary. If your ex-wife specifically asks, they will take into account your dividend payments as well.

Guidance has recently been updated. See here, http://www.csa.gov.uk/en/PDF/leaflets/new/CSL303.pdf page 30. But also page 46.

In theory it doesn't need the PWC to specifically ask now, though how it works in practice I don't know.