Travel expenses question

**Jeremiah@RHJAccountants** · 24 August 2011, 12:58

Originally posted by Ruprect View Post

Can I claim travel expenses from where I'm on holiday to the client site if I need to come in? If so, are there any conditions? Eg does it need to be an 'emergency' etc

Yes you can claim travel expenses from where you are holiday if you do need to go to the client site.

The only condition is that it is a legitimate business trip.

So you will not fall foul of any HMRC rules.

Shame you cant enjoy your holiday! but if they need yo at the client site what can you do

**david at QIS** · 24 August 2011, 13:08

Also get the request for you to attend IN WRITING from the client to keep with the receipts ! (Butt covered)

**LisaContractorUmbrella** · 24 August 2011, 14:42

IANAL but I would have thought there would have to be some consideration for what is written in the contract as to whether HMR&C would allow the expense; the onus would be on you to prove the wholly exclusively necessary bit and show that the trip to clientco couldn't be avoided

**Ruprect** · 24 August 2011, 14:46

Right, thanks all, sounds to me like this is conditional: I.e I can't decide that I want to live in Wales for 2 weeks and commute from there, and still claim the travel.

**JamJarST** · 24 August 2011, 15:01

Originally posted by LisaContractorUmbrella View Post

IANAL but I would have thought there would have to be some consideration for what is written in the contract as to whether HMR&C would allow the expense; the onus would be on you to prove the wholly exclusively necessary bit and show that the trip to clientco couldn't be avoided

Why does the trip need to be unavoidable or written into the contract? As an example, I live and work in Berkshire and my client is in Aberdeen. I write off my travelling expenses from my home (office) to the client in my Limited Company. Now lets say I go on Holiday and for some reason have to go to the client during the holiday. I would argue that the travel between my holiday location and client is wholly and exclusively for business regardless of contract or the urgency of the trip. Where it might be a grey area is if I travelled to my holiday destination and at the end of my holiday I travelled to the client instead of back home, it could be argued that a portion of the travel is personal.

**Ruprect** · 24 August 2011, 15:12

Originally posted by JamJarST View Post

Why does the trip need to be unavoidable or written into the contract? As an example, I live and work in Berkshire and my client is in Aberdeen. I write off my travelling expenses from my home (office) to the client in my Limited Company. Now lets say I go on Holiday and for some reason have to go to the client during the holiday. I would argue that the travel between my holiday location and client is wholly and exclusively for business regardless of contract or the urgency of the trip. Where it might be a grey area is if I travelled to my holiday destination and at the end of my holiday I travelled to the client instead of back home, it could be argued that a portion of the travel is personal.

Could you claim travel expenses from a holiday home into clientco?

**LisaContractorUmbrella** · 24 August 2011, 15:15

Originally posted by JamJarST View Post

Why does the trip need to be unavoidable or written into the contract? As an example, I live and work in Berkshire and my client is in Aberdeen. I write off my travelling expenses from my home (office) to the client in my Limited Company. Now lets say I go on Holiday and for some reason have to go to the client during the holiday. I would argue that the travel between my holiday location and client is wholly and exclusively for business regardless of contract or the urgency of the trip. Where it might be a grey area is if I travelled to my holiday destination and at the end of my holiday I travelled to the client instead of back home, it could be argued that a portion of the travel is personal.

I am not saying that it needs to be written into the contract but I would think that the contents of the contract would be relevant e.g. if your contract makes no reference to hours to be worked or days that you are required at the premises and there is no mention of holiday entitlement then I would think there would be no problem. However, if your working times were fixed and your holiday was pre-arranged I think you would need to justify coming back to client co and therefore justify the travel expense. Just MHO as I doubt that there will be anything on HMR&C's site to substantiate it but, if you do this for long enough, you kind of get an idea of the way their mind works

**northernladuk** · 24 August 2011, 16:01

Rules aside how much is it actually worth to you? And i mean in your pocket not miles*45p

My question is.. Is it really worth it if the benefits to you are minimal?

Personally I would not be comfortable claiming more than my daily commute, particularly if all I save is small 10's of pounds.

**SueEllen** · 24 August 2011, 16:24

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

Rules aside how much is it actually worth to you? And i mean in your pocket not miles*45p

My question is.. Is it really worth it if the benefits to you are minimal?

If it's a real emergency then yes I would expect to be able to claim mileage.

I know permies who have had mileage paid like that and in fact entire holidays paid due to such situations.

However like LisaContractorUmbrella said it entirely depends what is written in the contract.

Travel expenses question