xmas party question

[John Doe]

Hi all,

I know that you can have a x-mas party or similar and expense it for up to 150£ per head as long as it available to all employees.

Now my question:

I am the company director (contracting taking dividends, ...) and my partner is the company secretary (doing a bit of admin and helping with business development when she got some free time (she is not getting paid for that, nor is she getting any dividends)). Can we claim a xmas meal for up to 150£ each (i.e. up to £300 in total) as I am not certain whether this role only applies to employees?

Thank you.

JD

[Greg@CapitalCity]

The annual party exemption is available to directors and employees. Guests can also be invited (before you ask, I suggest you invite one guest, not 10). So in your case, invite yourself and your guest along to the annual Xmas party, and ensure your total VAT inclusive costs do not exceed £300.

[mudskipper]

When I asked the question a couple of years back, it was far from clear cut I never did claim it.

http://forums.contractoruk.com/accou...-expenses.html

[Waldorf]

My you are early asking about Xmas!

My accountant refers me to this - http://www.nixonwilliams.com/images/...tertaining.pdf

[Support Monkey]

I normally go for a curry with my mates around March, normally 4 or 5 of us and as long as the receipt does not show how many people on it i normally chuck this in as the christmas party, not strictly within HMRC rules but as long as its not more than £300 (£150 a head me + Co secretary) who would know

[Support Monkey]

I normally go for a curry with my mates around March, normally 4 or 5 of us and as long as the receipt does not show how people on it i normally chuck this in as the christmas party, not strictly within HMRC rules but as long as its not more than £300 (£150 a head me + Co secretary) who would know

Unless the local tax inspector is stiiting at the next table

[Sockpuppet]

I normally go for a curry with my mates around March, normally 4 or 5 of us and as long as the receipt does not show how people on it i normally chuck this in as the christmas party, not strictly within HMRC rules but as long as its not more than £300 (£150 a head me + Co secretary) who would know

6 curries for 2 people might end up raising an eye brow.

[Scrag Meister]

I usually invite the folks in my immediate team out for drinks and some snacks when I get renewed and expense it. Always appreciated and good PR for me and contractors in general.

Also most of the folks I work with are a lot younger than me , so hope, naively maybe, that they will remember me when they get up the ladder a bit.

Must admit I was glad I didn't do this on my last contract as was terminated a month after renewal.

[ASB]

It doesn't have to be Christmas. It can be more than one event.

HM Revenue & Customs: Social functions for employees, including annual parties
EIM21690 - Particular benefits: annual parties and other social functions

[northernladuk]

I normally go for a curry with my mates around March, normally 4 or 5 of us and as long as the receipt does not show how people on it i normally chuck this in as the christmas party, not strictly within HMRC rules but as long as its not more than £300 (£150 a head me + Co secretary) who would know

Why take the piss when it is such a petty amount of money when I am sure there will be other times of the year you can apply this correctly? If you are going to apply the 'who would know' attitude why not attempt to completely falsify all your accounts?

At the end of the day you are actually paying most of this out of your pocket anyway so doen't make sense to just spend it because you can claim tax.