Hotel and Travel Expenses

[pookgai]

Say for example I claim the cost of a hotel and train through my company for an interview, do I need to produce evidence that the interview took place?

I know some people who go on a short holiday during the week or long weekend - either abroad or inland - and claim back their travel and hotel through their company under the guise of "client visit", "business expedition", or "interview". If investigated, would HMRC ask for evidence that this took place?

Thanks guys.

[Mr.Whippy]

Say for example I claim the cost of a hotel and train through my company for an interview, do I need to produce evidence that the interview took place?

Yes, you're supposed to have evidence. I would recommend a photo of you outside the client's premises holding the days newspaper, with your car in view should you claim mileage.

I know some people who go on a short holiday during the week or long weekend - either abroad or inland - and claim back their travel and hotel through their company under the guise of "client visit", "business expedition", or "interview". If investigated, would HMRC ask for evidence that this took place?

Regardless of what they ask for, it's generally considered not a good idea to try and de-fraud the tax man....


ps. the photo thing was a joke.....

[pookgai]

Yes, you're supposed to have evidence. I would recommend a photo of you outside the client's premises holding the days newspaper, with your car in view should you claim mileage.

ps. the photo thing was a joke.....

...are you joking? I have an interview in Scotland and its going to cost about 2-300quid! Would really like to claim it but would I really need to go to those lengths to prove it?

[Mr.Whippy]

...are you joking? I have an interview in Scotland and its going to cost about 2-300quid! Would really like to claim it but would I really need to go to those lengths to prove it?

Lengths? you must have a camera on your phone right? and 30p on top of the travel expenses for a paper wont hurt... besides, you can claim it back on expenses and have something to read on the train/in the traffic jams. win/win.

[pookgai]

Lengths? you must have a camera on your phone right? and 30p on top of the travel expenses for a paper wont hurt... besides, you can claim it back on expenses and have something to read on the train/in the traffic jams. win/win.

guess it won't be too much of an effort...it just seems a bit ..not sure on the words im looking for ..imagine the scenario "yeah, these are legitimate expenses...look, i even took a picture of myself!"...i guess what im trying to say is, it looks like you went that extra few steps to prove your innocent, and so much so that it looks like you're actually come across like you're trying to cover up ...if you get my drift. I get your point though.

So, is this what others have done, and is it likely that HMRC will ask to see every bit of evidence, e.g if they saw a receipt for a box of pens 100 pens i bought 6 months ago that i claimed, would they really ask to see the remaining pens left and calculate the amount of ink on average i would use to deduce how many on average i should have remaining?!

I may be going to the extreme, but just want to gauge from peoples experience of HMRC the lengths THEY go to , in trying to prove you have committed fraud..

[Mr.Whippy]

I may be going to the extreme, but just want to gauge from peoples experience of HMRC the lengths THEY go to , in trying to prove you have committed fraud..

I was joking about the evidence/photo requirement.

If it's a genuine business expense and travel to an interview would be, then claim it. I've never been investigated (and hope it stays this way) but if I was asked for any "evidence" for my travel expenses to interviews I would be able to produce the relevant emails from agents to my business email address arranging dates/times & locations etc plus the automated application emails from jobserve etc, which would also likely coincide with upcoming contract end dates... I would think/hope this would suffice.

If you're going to "interviews" every other weekend, staying at hotels whilst in the middle of a 6 month contract and can't produce any emails arranging them, then I'd think that would look suspect. Well it certainly would to me if I was investigating

[pookgai]

I was joking about the evidence/photo requirement.

If it's a genuine business expense and travel to an interview would be, then claim it. I've never been investigated (and hope it stays this way) but if I was asked for any "evidence" for my travel expenses to interviews I would be able to produce the relevant emails from agents to my business email address arranging dates/times & locations etc plus the automated application emails from jobserve etc, which would also likely coincide with upcoming contract end dates... I would think/hope this would suffice.

If you're going to "interviews" every other weekend, staying at hotels whilst in the middle of a 6 month contract and can't produce any emails arranging them, then I'd think that would look suspect. Well it certainly would to me if I was investigating

Ahh, a comedian!!

Good call on the emails...how about if you went cold calling/visiting for prospective business..and had no evidence...as I might do in the future ..honest..

[Mr.Whippy]

how about if you went cold calling/visiting for prospective business..and had no evidence...as I might do in the future ..honest..

[SueEllen]

Good call on the emails...how about if you went cold calling/visiting for prospective business..and had no evidence...as I might do in the future ..honest..

How many companies in this day and age would let you on to their premises without you phoning them first to arrange a "meeting"?

As long as you have itemised phone bills which is standard for landlines and what mobile operators tend to throw in free for business accounts then you have nothing to worry about.

[Platypus]

I know some people who go on a short holiday during the week or long weekend - either abroad or inland - and claim back their travel and hotel through their company under the guise of "client visit", "business expedition", or "interview". If investigated, would HMRC ask for evidence that this took place?

In this case, providing they went on holiday, there would be ample evidence that the trip took place, such as airplane boarding cards, so no problem there! I think you're asking what about evidence that the trip was a bona fide business trip? Providing you collect a few business cards there should be no problem proving that the trip was 'real'