Claiming for food

[pacharan]

In regards to supermarkets sometimes the nearest shop or only shop in an area is a supermarket. And nas they sell everything and sometimes have a cafe it means if you go there every day you can claim, but if you are organised or have somewhere to store you food, even if it's the boot of your car because all you eat is pot noodles, you can't.

I buy my food on a Monday night and store it in a fridge at the b and b.

My understanding was that this was ok because it is purchased during travel associated with work (ie anytime between Monday am and Friday pm is ok.)

Microwave meals, ready meals etc are ok but you can't claim for the ingredients to make a meal.

[mikedarv]

Sorry noob question.

I believe I can claim 3 meals a day for my first time contract, I'll get reimbursed for the amount but I'm not sure of the tax benefits of this? Can anyone quickly explain

Would my food bills be paid by the agency or the umbrella company?

[northernladuk]

Sorry noob question.

I believe I can claim 3 meals a day for my first time contract, I'll get reimbursed for the amount but I'm not sure of the tax benefits of this? Can anyone quickly explain

Would my food bills be paid by the agency or the umbrella company?

That is beyond noob I am afraid. Why do you expect your agent or umbrella to pay? If you are with an umbrella go and read your papwerowrk again. It will be explained clearly in there.

And you cannot claim 3 meals a day. I suggest you read this thread again properly and go do a bit of research.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

Sorry noob question.

I believe I can claim 3 meals a day for my first time contract, I'll get reimbursed for the amount but I'm not sure of the tax benefits of this? Can anyone quickly explain

Would my food bills be paid by the agency or the umbrella company?

Did your umbrella company tell you this? If so you need a new umbrella company.

There are very strict rules governing when you can claim for meals and it would be very unlikely that you could legitimately claim for 3 meals. The expenses would be processed as a tax benefit if they were allowable which would mean that you would get the tax relief on the amount claimed rather than it be reimbursed in full.

[doomage]

That is beyond noob I am afraid. Why do you expect your agent or umbrella to pay? If you are with an umbrella go and read your papwerowrk again. It will be explained clearly in there.

And you cannot claim 3 meals a day. I suggest you read this thread again properly and go do a bit of research.

Probably just misread the contract, a common mistake. As a contractor you are allowed to eat 3 meals a day. But no more than that, in case you get fat.

HTH

[Contreras]

Probably just misread the contract, a common mistake. As a contractor you are allowed to eat 3 meals a day. But no more than that, in case you get fat.

Unless the client provides free lunches for staff in which case you are contracted to eat one meal a day and make it a good one.

[gertysingh]

Didn't Gordon Brown used to claim a fixed sum a day like 40 GBP a day when working away?

[northernladuk]

Didn't Gordon Brown used to claim a fixed sum a day like 40 GBP a day when working away?

Did he claim this from his employer or did he claim it from HMRC? It is important you get the right scenario if it is going to be any help to this thread.

[gertysingh]

Dunno......probably read it in something like the Daily Mail or the Sun or something - anyway here is some maybe truths from the MP expense scandal (who knows if the newspapers report properly - so will need to be checked with HMRC)

However, the new rules state that “no receipts are necessary” for the subsistence payments and that it is “for members to decide” how the money is spent.

MPs will simply have to state how many nights they have spent away from their main home “on parliamentary business” to receive the flat-rate sum. There is no way for the information to be independently verified.

The new rules, sent to MPs, state: “Members... may claim a flat-rate sum of £25 for subsistence. No receipts are necessary for this claim to be made. How members spend the subsistence allowance is for them to decide.”

Ref: MPs ignore public anger and give themselves £9,000 expenses deal by stealth - Telegraph July 2009

[gertysingh]

So if the MPs can give themselves a flat rate - I wonder if this would be applicable to other businesses.