Starting to claim something your entitled to but not claimed for in the past

[SimonMac]

I know HMRC will allow you to claim £5 per night you are away without any receipts etc as a daily subsistence, but I have never bothered to claim this, I try to keep thinks simple so the savings on your CT bill will still only be at most £200 a year, but as they say every little helps.

My worry is that none of my previous contracts I have claimed this, will it look suspicion if I start claiming for something that I know I am entitled to, but have never done before in the past?

[Clare@InTouch]

I wouldn't have a problem with it. It may raise eyebrows at HMRC if your travel costs increase out of line with your turnover, but that's not unusual when someone changes contract and starts incurring more costs. As long as you can justify what you're claiming, and it's all allowable, then it should be absolutely fine.

[northernladuk]

I never really worry about things at this level. I don't think HMRC are in the business of trying to spot trends. If that were the case every spot on the bench or increase/decrease in rates would be raising a flag to them. I would bet that fluctuations, particularly this small will never initiate an investigation. You only need one month on the bench and your final figures will change substantially more than you starting to claim this.

Business changes and so does income/cost etc so it is to be expected it was different. They should be more interested in the guy that puts the same figures in for 3 or 4 years which would look more suspicious.

[SimonMac]

I never really worry about things at this level. I don't think HMRC are in the business of trying to spot trends. If that were the case every spot on the bench or increase/decrease in rates would be raising a flag to them. I would bet that fluctuations, particularly this small will never initiate an investigation. You only need one month on the bench and your final figures will change substantially more than you starting to claim this.

Business changes and so does income/cost etc so it is to be expected it was different. They should be more interested in the guy that puts the same figures in for 3 or 4 years which would look more suspicious.

I am about to hit the 10,000 mile limit (yeah I know its only been 4 months ) so trying to make up a drop in mileage

[northernladuk]

I am about to hit the 10,000 mile limit (yeah I know its only been 4 months ) so trying to make up a drop in mileage

LOL Did exactly the same in my first year of LTD. Was pretty lax about claming phone and other minor expenses but as soon as I hit 10K miles 6 months in I had a sudden change of heart as well and anything that could be legitimately claimed went in.

[Cenobite]

I am about to hit the 10,000 mile limit (yeah I know its only been 4 months ) so trying to make up a drop in mileage

I've been using https://hubo.herokuapp.com to keep track of the 10,000 mile limit. It's a bit of a nause otherwise.

[BolshieBastard]

I know HMRC will allow you to claim £5 per night you are away without any receipts etc as a daily subsistence, but I have never bothered to claim this, I try to keep thinks simple so the savings on your CT bill will still only be at most £200 a year, but as they say every little helps.

My worry is that none of my previous contracts I have claimed this, will it look suspicion if I start claiming for something that I know I am entitled to, but have never done before in the past?

So long as you are away from hom for 12 hours, why not claim it? If you are working away and stay in a hotel, there's added proof to support your claim.

[kingcook]

I always thought that you could only claim upto £5 (for an overnight stay in the UK) if you'd actually spent that amount. Is that right? Or can one just claim £5 regardless of whether they'd spent it or not?

[Contreras]

I always thought that you could only claim upto £5 (for an overnight stay in the UK) if you'd actually spent that amount. Is that right? Or can one just claim £5 regardless of whether they'd spent it or not?

It was done in the "Daily Substinence"* thread recently.

Unless you have a dispensation from HMRC, the "£5" and "12 hours" stuff is irrelevant and you claim for the actual cost incurred. Of course, you will also be able to somehow demonstrate this and receipts are good for that!

* aware

[BolshieBastard]

It was done in the "Daily Substinence"* thread recently.

Unless you have a dispensation from HMRC, the "£5" and "12 hours" stuff is irrelevant and you claim for the actual cost incurred. Of course, you will also be able to somehow demonstrate this and receipts are good for that!

* aware

You even said in that thread its going around in circles. Clearly you disagree with some people's point of view.

I dont know if you're an accountant yourself but, Im happy to go with what my long standing accountant says, I dont work through a brolly either.