MPs expenses

[ASB]

Lisa, It used to be the case that there was a specific part of thetax return for MP's. Might still be. This was not in the public domain.

However, there are still no circumstance where allowing them accountancy/advice costs on personal affairs whilst disallowing it for everybody else is ever in any way right - even if it is lawful.

Seems it is now in the public domain. Here is the guidance. Make of it what you will.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/sa102-mp-m1.pdf

P16.

Not allowed:
• mortgage interest on an office or part of a residence used as an office
• newspapers, books and periodicals of general interest, newspaper
cutting services
• charitable subscriptions
• constituency newsletters and other circulars relating to party political
activities, canvassing literature, election expenses, Christmas cards
• entertaining constituents or others, expenses incurred by spouses,
for example, in deputising for, or accompanying, MPs
• accountancy fees incurred in the preparation of the Self Assessment tax return or related expenses claims
• payments to political organisations for party political purposes
• any expense incurred as a member of a political party
• charges for private phone calls and the rental charge where the line
is used (even partly) for private calls.

[FiveTimes]

wonder if HMR&C have checked their IR35 status as well?

How would an MP use the substitution clause ?

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

How would an MP use the substitution clause ?

[NickNick]

100% agree but there are quite a few laws that apply to us and not to them aren't there?

I can't think of any off the top of my head outside of the slander one. Can you let me know any of the others?

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

I can't think of any off the top of my head outside of the slander one. Can you let me know any of the others?

MPs excluded from tax avoidance legislation - 07 Apr 2011 - Accountancy Age

[NickNick]

MPs excluded from tax avoidance legislation - 07 Apr 2011 - Accountancy Age

Interesting, so just the one area then, as the Slander one is not specific to MPs.

[tractor]

..

The MP's expenses watchdog said that they were a 'business cost'; happy to be corrected but aren't MP's employed by the Government and are therefore subject to the taxation rules surrounding employment? If they are a 'business' cost then one would logically assume that the cost had been incurred by a 'business' - wonder if HMR&C have checked their IR35 status as well?

Especially considering this quote from the article "This, Ipsa argued, was because MPs are effectively self-employed and deserved the same tax settlement as small businesses."

It's hard to work out who Ipsa consider their employer lol if it's me, mine will get fired on Tuesday!!