Expenses - How much for Year

[malvolio]

Gig before last - return air fares of £130 a week, 200 miles travel time, average £60 a night four nights a week for bed and food, for six months. Total around £12,000

Last Gig - 200 miles a day round trip for three months. Total £5200

Next gig - £15 a day rail fares for three months and £30 a week car parking. Total around £1350

So what was that about averages??

[Zoiderman]

I spent the last year flying to a clients weekly (£250p/w) and staying 3/4 nights at a holiday inn (£200 p/w) with £25 a day food allowance (£125 p/w), £10 overnight allowance (£40 p/w) so you cna see, over a 48 week period, my expenses worked out over £40k. This year, I am working locally and will struggle to see out £10k expenses.

There is no real average; it is what it is.

[configman]

Hi,

Just a quick question from newbie contractor.

How much is everyones expenses for the year.

Mine were @20K - Rent, travel, taxis, pc, pie, etc..

Just wanted to get ball park from others.

thanks!

There is no ball park figure - just be able to back it up if questioned by HMRC. If you can do that then as long as it is a valid business expense there is no problem.

To keep investigations at bay for abnormally expensive years you can add to your full accounts directors report etc a short piece explaining why it was so expensive that year i.e contracts requiring flights and accom. That was the advice I got from HMRC after they investigated my accounts one year.

[Sockpuppet]

Currently around £600 a week on hotels all expensed to Client Co.

[NorthWestPerm2Contr]

£12,000 mostly on mileage, train tickets, PCG membership and some software. Also a couple of nights at a hotel and computer equipment. My first year though so entitled to it. Future years should be a fair bit below £10,000.

[Wanderer]

So what was that about averages??

Actually the OP asked about was "ball park figures". I think it's a good thread as I've been fortunate enough not to have to travel on business very much so never really claimed all that much in expenses. It's interesting to see how much others put through the business.