Cost relating to working while travelling?

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

The purpose of the journey is to visit family and not for business and therefore I can't see that any of the costs would be allowable tbh

[d000hg]

The purpose of the journey is to visit family and not for business and therefore I can't see that any of the costs would be allowable tbh

Yes but we're not talking about the journey, we're talking about additional costs once I'm already making the trip...

This means that your sole purpose for the expenditure must be a business purpose.

If my sole purpose for the upgrade is to give me an acceptable working environment, then isn't that by definition a business purpose?

If I were flying on holiday and an airport offered "hire by the hour office space" with hot-desks including free internet, comfortable chairs and complimentary refreshments, I can't see how anyone could claim the business paying for a few hours use would be inappropriate to get some work done. But if you could pay 50% of this cost to use the business class lounge which includes all the same facilities, people are saying that would be inappropriate... but it would make better business sense to pay less for the same facilities!

Playing 's advocate a bit here but the principle does strike me as sound.

[Clare@InTouch]

Yes but we're not talking about the journey, we're talking about additional costs once I'm already making the trip...

If my sole purpose for the upgrade is to give me an acceptable working environment, then isn't that by definition a business purpose?

If I were flying on holiday and an airport offered "hire by the hour office space" with hot-desks including free internet, comfortable chairs and complimentary refreshments, I can't see how anyone could claim the business paying for a few hours use would be inappropriate to get some work done. But if you could pay 50% of this cost to use the business class lounge which includes all the same facilities, people are saying that would be inappropriate... but it would make better business sense to pay less for the same facilities!

Playing 's advocate a bit here but the principle does strike me as sound.

But the only reason you're having to incur an additional cost is because you've chosen to make a personal journey. Why should the business be allowed to claim for "office space" because the employee has decided not to use the perfectly good office space he has at home/work

[d000hg]

But the only reason you're having to incur an additional cost is because you've chosen to make a personal journey. Why should the business be allowed to claim for "office space" because the employee has decided not to use the perfectly good office space he has at home/work

You could say the same if I chose to rent an office when I have a perfectly serviceable home! And by that logic, even paying for WiFi on a train would be wrong because I didn't need to be on the train.

[Clare@InTouch]

You could say the same if I chose to rent an office when I have a perfectly serviceable home! And by that logic, even paying for WiFi on a train would be wrong because I didn't need to be on the train.

Not really - having an office space for a business is wholly and exclusively for business purposes. Upgrading to first class in order to work isn't wholly and exclusively for the business because the reason you're there in the first place is because you're making a personal journey.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

You could say the same if I chose to rent an office when I have a perfectly serviceable home! And by that logic, even paying for WiFi on a train would be wrong because I didn't need to be on the train.

If you think you can justify the costs to HMRC then claim them just don't be surprised if they don't agree with your logic. Obviously we'll be suitably sympathetic if it all goes hideously wrong

[northernladuk]

If you think you can justify the costs to HMRC then claim them just don't be surprised if they don't agree with your logic. Obviously we'll be suitably sympathetic if it all goes hideously wrong

I will!

[GraemeBrown thecpsgroup]

I agree with the other posters here, claiming for these expenses could be a difficult one to justify to HMRC.

Are the tax savings enough to put yourself at risk of an investigation.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

I will!

I believe you - thousands wouldn't

[Clare@InTouch]

I will!

I have often thought you're a big softy really