Expenses without receipts - how far back can I claim?

[kingcook]

So you don't normally eat lunch at work then?

I really CBA to dig out all the details yet again to prove you wrong, but for 20% of £5 - a whole £200 a year - is it really worth the hassle?

I'm not wrong.

And yes it's worth it.

My lunches cost me £1000+ per year. If that weren't reimbursed by my company i'd have to take an extra £1000+ dividend to replace what i'd spent on those lunches which would take me into the higher tax bracket.

[Contreras]

Can I ask a question here... This £5 allowance.... Can you only claim what you spend or can you put the whole rate in even if you bought a £1.99 sarnie?

NLUK seriously, has your account been hacked?

Either you have dispensation to use the HMRC scale rates or you don't.

If you do, then it's "up to" (that's no more than) the scale rate, even if the meal cost less than that. There must have been an expense incurred.

Without a dispensation you can claim whatever the actual receipted value so long as the amount is reasonable for the circumstances.

I've considered getting a dispensation in order to reduce the admin. but I don't like the idea of having expenses capped at such paultry rates, and there are some petty rules about when you can/can't claim.

[northernladuk]

Doh, well that backfired.... I am well aware of the rules. Just trying to make people that are banding around the £5 rate around to consider the fact they maybe spending less than £5 so making the benefits look even less attractive than they already are...

[malvolio]

Doh, well that backfired.... I am well aware of the rules. Just trying to make people that are banding around the £5 rate around to consider the fact they maybe spending less than £5 so making the benefits look even less attractive than they already are...

If they're in a world where 20% of £5 is important to them, it's not worth arguing about...

[Datalink]

I'm going to ask my accountant.

I also have dispensation from the client in which I can claim for being at the customer site, ie I can claim extra for hotels or food. I'm not sure how it all works, think I'll meet my accountant.

[Wanderer]

I'm going to ask my accountant.

I also have dispensation from the client in which I can claim for being at the customer site, ie I can claim extra for hotels or food. I'm not sure how it all works, think I'll meet my accountant.

Definitely speak to your accountant and let us know what they think.

I'd guess that you are probably best keeping receipts for everything and only claim the actual expenditure not the amount of the client's dispensation because dispensation is for employees of the client's company and you want to stay far far away from that sort of stuff if you are an IR35 dodger running your own LTD company...

[Datalink]

Exactly why I am very weary of it all and I shall be looking into it.

[psychocandy]

Can I ask a question here... This £5 allowance.... Can you only claim what you spend or can you put the whole rate in even if you bought a £1.99 sarnie?

Not sure if this is tongue in cheek NLUK but

have you done a search? Have you asked your accountant? ;-)

But, no, UP TO £5 but you've got to have a receipt....

EDIT : Ah I thought as much!

[northernladuk]

Not sure if this is tongue in cheek NLUK but

have you done a search? Have you asked your accountant? ;-)

But, no, UP TO £5 but you've got to have a receipt....

EDIT : Ah I thought as much!

Keep up sonny jim...