Expenses when working away from home Mon-Fri staying overnight

[Guest22]

Sigh yourself. I wrote some of them; perhaps you missed them? Do a little more research before you start criticising the people who have the answers.

You had already 'Sigh'ed, I responded. If you can't take it, don't give it rather than be a hypocrite. You started criticising first and I read every single post on that thread. But nearly all of them were not in relation to someone staying away every night Mon-Fri, just the occasional overnight stay, hence my question regarding groceries.

I'm not here to make friends and socialise or impress people - I just want to ask questions and hopefully get good answers and content myself that other people with similar questions in future will find this thread. So, please all stop having hissy fits, people - dis iz only da interwebz, it's not real! And I'm just a cyborg!

If I want to write two "over complicated posts that take a lot of time to read and understand", I will do so in order to cover all my queries, even if I'm 99% sure about something. I like to be 100% on everything, so a 1% non-understanding is reason enough to ask the question for me. Those who wish not to read a long post can choose not to do so, no one is forcing them to. Those who are able to help, I will appreciate all help given, and so far, people on this forum are very knowledgeable and helpful, but damn there are some highly-strung members on here (vis-à-vis my last thread).

*deep breath*

Anyway, thanks northernladuk once again for your input. Drinks I guess I should leave out - I asked the question because someone on the other thread included drinks with an old friend because they discussed potential business ideas, and it has never been questioned by HMRC.

LisaContractorUmbrella, thanks for your reply. If I decide to put the evening meal through the business but it isn't tax-deductible, what is the purpose of putting it through the business? I might as well just put it on my personal debit card and it's one less complication on my accounts if there is no other benefit, right?

stek, well, it may be sailing close to the wind; but, as I read in the other thread, there seems to be two ends of the spectrum - those like you who claim on barely anything, and some who claim for everything they can and don't seem to get any more attention from HMRC than anyone else. So, this is why I'm querying it. As you can see, there is a reason for my questions - it's based on conflicting information on this very forum!

[stek]

LisaContractorUmbrella, thanks for your reply. If I decide to put the evening meal through the business but it isn't tax-deductible, what is the purpose of putting it through the business? I might as well just put it on my personal debit card and it's one less complication on my accounts if there is no other benefit, right?

Cos the Ltd pays not u personally

[dynamicsaxcontractor]

You had already 'Sigh'ed, I responded. If you can't take it, don't give it rather than be a hypocrite. You started criticising first and I read every single post on that thread. But nearly all of them were not in relation to someone staying away every night Mon-Fri, just the occasional overnight stay, hence my question regarding groceries.

I'm not here to make friends and socialise or impress people - I just want to ask questions and hopefully get good answers and content myself that other people with similar questions in future will find this thread. So, please all stop having hissy fits, people - dis iz only da interwebz, it's not real! And I'm just a cyborg!

If I want to write two "over complicated posts that take a lot of time to read and understand", I will do so in order to cover all my queries, even if I'm 99% sure about something. I like to be 100% on everything, so a 1% non-understanding is reason enough to ask the question for me. Those who wish not to read a long post can choose not to do so, no one is forcing them to. Those who are able to help, I will appreciate all help given, and so far, people on this forum are very knowledgeable and helpful, but damn there are some highly-strung members on here (vis-à-vis my last thread).

*deep breath*

Anyway, thanks northernladuk once again for your input. Drinks I guess I should leave out - I asked the question because someone on the other thread included drinks with an old friend because they discussed potential business ideas, and it has never been questioned by HMRC.

LisaContractorUmbrella, thanks for your reply. If I decide to put the evening meal through the business but it isn't tax-deductible, what is the purpose of putting it through the business? I might as well just put it on my personal debit card and it's one less complication on my accounts if there is no other benefit, right?

stek, well, it may be sailing close to the wind; but, as I read in the other thread, there seems to be two ends of the spectrum - those like you who claim on barely anything, and some who claim for everything they can and don't seem to get any more attention from HMRC than anyone else. So, this is why I'm querying it. As you can see, there is a reason for my questions - it's based on conflicting information on this very forum!

Claim on everything relating to the travel, hotel and food from the second you leave home until you are back , but dont take the p***. I can't see anyone during an inspection wanting to go through every receipt and look at every line to see if it is OK.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

You had already 'Sigh'ed, I responded. If you can't take it, don't give it rather than be a hypocrite. You started criticising first and I read every single post on that thread. But nearly all of them were not in relation to someone staying away every night Mon-Fri, just the occasional overnight stay, hence my question regarding groceries.

I'm not here to make friends and socialise or impress people - I just want to ask questions and hopefully get good answers and content myself that other people with similar questions in future will find this thread. So, please all stop having hissy fits, people - dis iz only da interwebz, it's not real! And I'm just a cyborg!

If I want to write two "over complicated posts that take a lot of time to read and understand", I will do so in order to cover all my queries, even if I'm 99% sure about something. I like to be 100% on everything, so a 1% non-understanding is reason enough to ask the question for me. Those who wish not to read a long post can choose not to do so, no one is forcing them to. Those who are able to help, I will appreciate all help given, and so far, people on this forum are very knowledgeable and helpful, but damn there are some highly-strung members on here (vis-à-vis my last thread).

*deep breath*

Anyway, thanks northernladuk once again for your input. Drinks I guess I should leave out - I asked the question because someone on the other thread included drinks with an old friend because they discussed potential business ideas, and it has never been questioned by HMRC.

LisaContractorUmbrella, thanks for your reply. If I decide to put the evening meal through the business but it isn't tax-deductible, what is the purpose of putting it through the business? I might as well just put it on my personal debit card and it's one less complication on my accounts if there is no other benefit, right?

stek, well, it may be sailing close to the wind; but, as I read in the other thread, there seems to be two ends of the spectrum - those like you who claim on barely anything, and some who claim for everything they can and don't seem to get any more attention from HMRC than anyone else. So, this is why I'm querying it. As you can see, there is a reason for my questions - it's based on conflicting information on this very forum!

At the end of the day it's your business so claim what you like just as long as you accept that if HMR&C do come calling they will go through all your records and all your receipts going back a number of years with the kind of diligence and minute attention to detail that you will normally only find in a grooming monkey. Then, when they've finished, they will make their assessment on how much you owe - as long as you have saved for this very moment you will be fine - if not............................

[northernladuk]

Cos the Ltd pays not u personally

Just to exand on this it means it isn't affecting the amount you can bring out as divi. If the max dividends you can pull is 10k (example) then the money in your pocket is 10k - minus these drinks. If you use the business entertaining it will be 10k. The business has paid for the drink.

Do not (!!!) take this as carte blanche to put everything through the business thinking you are effectively increasing your divi take, there are rules around entertaining and having a knees up to save your divis is not one of them. Excessive use will stand out a mile.

Claim on everything relating to the travel, hotel and food from the second you leave home until you are back , but dont take the p***. I can't see anyone during an inspection wanting to go through every receipt and look at every line to see if it is OK.

Very wrong. When HMRC inspect they WILL go through every line of every expense and question it. That is the whole point of an inspection. This and the advice to claim everything is very poor advice indeed.

[dynamicsaxcontractor]

Just to exand on this it means it isn't affecting the amount you can bring out as divi. If the max dividends you can pull is 10k (example) then the money in your pocket is 10k - minus these drinks. If you use the business entertaining it will be 10k. The business has paid for the drink.

Do not (!!!) take this as carte blanche to put everything through the business thinking you are effectively increasing your divi take, there are rules around entertaining and having a knees up to save your divis is not one of them. Excessive use will stand out a mile.



Very wrong. When HMRC inspect they WILL go through every line of every expense and question it. That is the whole point of an inspection. This and the advice to claim everything is very poor advice indeed.

It's about common sense, if you buy a piece of bread, some cheese and bottle of red from tesco for your evening meal for a total of £10 that is as expensable as buying the same meal for £20 down the pub in my eyes. If the revenue comes knocking on my door and disagree I have to take that risk.

[northernladuk]

It's about common sense, if you buy a piece of bread, some cheese and bottle of red from tesco for your evening meal for a total of £10 that is as expensable as buying the same meal for £20 down the pub in my eyes. If the revenue comes knocking on my door and disagree I have to take that risk.

I don't know about the exact example you quoted but common sense and HMRC does not compute. It is about black and white rules (to them at least). It is up to you what level of risk you run as long as you are aware and prepared. Sad thing is it is highly likely most will get away with it, the few that didn't will have some sorry tales I am sure. You appear aware of it so fair enough, the OP doesn't.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

It's about common sense, if you buy a piece of bread, some cheese and bottle of red from tesco for your evening meal for a total of £10 that is as expensable as buying the same meal for £20 down the pub in my eyes. If the revenue comes knocking on my door and disagree I have to take that risk.

No it isn't and it's not whether something is 'right in your eyes' there are rules!!!!

[dynamicsaxcontractor]

I don't know about the exact example you quoted but common sense and HMRC does not compute. It is about black and white rules (to them at least). It is up to you what level of risk you run as long as you are aware and prepared. Sad thing is it is highly likely most will get away with it, the few that didn't will have some sorry tales I am sure. You appear aware of it so fair enough, the OP doesn't.

Agree, HMRC != common sense, but using common sense yourself is the best way to go about expenses - taking a suit to the dry cleaner for example is a real p***take....

Edit: But I assume you can get round it and get the dry clean on expenses, just negotiate with the hotel to include it in the bill amd hide it in the roomrate if they provide that service....

[Guest22]

Just to exand on this it means it isn't affecting the amount you can bring out as divi. If the max dividends you can pull is 10k (example) then the money in your pocket is 10k - minus these drinks. If you use the business entertaining it will be 10k. The business has paid for the drink.

Do not (!!!) take this as carte blanche to put everything through the business thinking you are effectively increasing your divi take, there are rules around entertaining and having a knees up to save your divis is not one of them. Excessive use will stand out a mile.

OK, that makes perfect sense; however, I didn't realise I there was a limit on the amount of dividends I can pay myself from the business - if there is, then your example calculation demonstrates how one might circumvent this limit by racking up non-tax-deductible expenses. I just assumed that it was a case of, let's say the turnover is £100k (example very simplified for brevity):

Turnover = £100k
Salary+NI = £10k
Tax-deductible Expenses = £10k
Corporation Tax = £16k
Dividends = £64k

So, is there a maximum limit on dividends?

PS: I can see everyone is having a little nervous head twitch with froth coming out of their mouths and reaching for the razor blades over the idea of me taking my suit to the drycleaners. But, although it may seem obvious to you, it isn't to me, and there is a hell of a lot of ambiguity on this forum with most things in this area. If I didn't go to work, I wouldn't wear a suit; therefore, getting it drycleaned is costing me money I would not otherwise spend if it were not for the business. I don't see how this was an "obvious p*sstake", but more a reasonable query.

PPS: As for these HMRC "rules", the rules are not that clearcut, hence all the discussion and ambiguity and uncertainty on this forum such as in the aforementioned threads.

PPPS: Prozac, anyone?