Second Puter/Lappy...

[stek]

I am in a position where I am spend more time that I prefer staying over near clientco, due to being able to drive due to heart issue discussed here before...

So i have decided to get a roomshare nr clinetco, exclusive, so I was wondering whether a claim for a puter at new address is ok, got one at home in Co name, might be pushing it, lappy is pointless, cant use on SC site, just sth for new place for expenses etc, while I'm away, and work-related masturbating...

[northernladuk]

I am in a position where I am spend more time that I prefer staying over near clientco, due to being able to drive due to heart issue discussed here before...

So i have decided to get a roomshare nr clinetco, exclusive, so I was wondering whether a claim for a puter at new address is ok, got one at home in Co name, might be pushing it, lappy is pointless, cant use on SC site, just sth for new place for expenses etc, while I'm away, and work-related masturbating...

Being SC site you can't remote in I take it therefore you are looking for a computer to be used socially in evenings at your lodgings.. I would say hell no personally. Arguing you do your LTD business wouldn't go down to well if you have a laptop as well. Guess you could argue you develop work on it you can't on a laptop i.e. processing power etc but if that isn't true is it really worth it for a 20% saving on a midrange pc?

But then at end of the day what are chances of you getting investigated, them actually finding out you can't use it for work, and really caring about something under 1K? Up to you.

[SueEllen]

You can have as many computers whether they are laptops, desktops or tablets as your company needs especially if your company specialises in IT or it's core business is IT.

You can use them all for incidental personal use.

So yes you can buy it in your company's name as no-one would be able to tell what you are using the computer for.

I'm presuming that you will end up doing accounts, emails and other business things on that computer as well as playing games, watching entertainment things etc. if it's connected to the internet.

As while I have personal computers I do end up doing some business things on them if I'm using them and want to do something like send an email.

[stek]

You can have as many computers whether they are laptops, desktops or tablets as your company needs especially if your company specialises in IT or it's core business is IT.

You can use them all for incidental personal use.

So yes you can buy it in your company's name as no-one would be able to tell what you are using the computer for.

I'm presuming that you will end up doing accounts, emails and other business things on that computer as well as playing games, watching entertainment things etc. if it's connected to the internet.

As while I have personal computers I do end up doing some business things on them if I'm using them and want to do something like send an email.

Yeah, expenses etc but mainly for remoting into my kit at home to try risky stuff not possible on site, bone up on stuff used on site I'm not 100% familiar with, etc.

I have the (personally owned) iPad for watching movies etc!

Cheers!

[SueEllen]

Yeah, expenses etc but mainly for remoting into my kit at home to try risky stuff not possible on site, bone up on stuff used on site I'm not 100% familiar with, etc.

I have the (personally owned) iPad for watching movies etc!

You need to think more like a business rather than a person.

Businesses have as much equipment as they need to do things efficiently.

That means if one of their employees has to have 2 or 3 types of one particular type of equipment, or they need have to have something that is typically associated with consumer use to do their work effectively and securely they get them.

It's seems shocking to some on here that you can have more than one computer/laptop for business use but then they have obviously not worked at clients where it was standard for the technical staff and managers to be given a minimum of 2 laptops or a desktop and a laptop just to be used at their desk.

[escapeUK]

It's seems shocking to some on here that you can have more than one computer/laptop for business use but then they have obviously not worked at clients where it was standard for the technical staff and managers to be given a minimum of 2 laptops or a desktop and a laptop just to be used at their desk.

You are 100% correct Sue. I think a lot of people here have never experienced work for or with a real business, so have little idea how they conducts themselves. They then get bamboozled about such phrases as "wholly and exclusively". Expenses are things that employees buy in relation to executing their job, anything else is just purchased if the people in charge feel it is needed.

[stek]

I understand it, but we're not 'REAL' businesses are we, the playing field isn't level, I'm sure IBM don't worry about IR35 etc.

We are individual artisans forced to work under a Ltd Co. regime whereas normally we would be self-employed. Aside from that, it makes little difference, SE or Ltd, but what to think like? An MD, and employee, or a corporate entity?

And even asking a question like this and others, solicits opposite opinions. The original reason I asked the question was really cos I couldn't be arsed carting the lappy around especially as I cannot drive for now and I had a vision of trying to explain that to the taxman...!

This whole 'Wholly and exclusively' is bollocks too, that's an is or isn't situation. We all buy OTT puter equipment to play games on not edit spreadsheets. Actually I don't, don't play games but that's not wholly and exclusively, but buying a telly for the office would have you strung up.

[SueEllen]

I understand it, but we're not 'REAL' businesses are we, the playing field isn't level, I'm sure IBM don't worry about IR35 etc.

We are individual artisans forced to work under a Ltd Co. regime whereas normally we would be self-employed. Aside from that, it makes little difference, SE or Ltd, but what to think like? An MD, and employee, or a corporate entity?

Freelancers in the traditional sense who don't run a business as a separate entity from themselves, also buy themselves as much business equipment as they need.

So if they need multiple laptops because they are a self-employed journalist, self-employed accountant or a self-employed lawyer they buy them.

And even asking a question like this and others, solicits opposite opinions. The original reason I asked the question was really cos I couldn't be arsed carting the lappy around especially as I cannot drive for now and I had a vision of trying to explain that to the taxman...!

I drive however I live in London and my main business laptop is too heavy and bulky to carry around if I want to take public transport or flights and carry something else so I have another lighter one.

This whole 'Wholly and exclusively' is bollocks too, that's an is or isn't situation.

Why?

Your main laptop is too heavy and bulky for you to cart around on public transport so you are getting yourself another one so you can do the work for the business you would normally do on that one.

We all buy OTT puter equipment to play games on not edit spreadsheets. Actually I don't, don't play games but that's not wholly and exclusively,

I find lots of people who spend all day in front of a computer at work can't bear to play computer games unless they are waiting for something i.e. on the train and play something on their phone.

but buying a telly for the office would have you strung up.

If your work involved something where you wrote/tested/edited stuff where TVs where being used and you did some of the research and development at home in your office then putting a TV through the books would be justified.

Journalists whose job it is to review TV and/or DVDs put that equipment through. Some of them work through limited companies.

BTW There is nothing stopping you from watching iPlayer with live TV or whatever on the equipment you have now including a top-notch monitor.