Equipment

[Xena]

Guys, you're employees of your umbrella. If you don't like having to follow the rules for employees, there is an answer...

[ChimpMaster]

lol, get a Ltd.

<smug />

Even with your own Ltd Co there are limitations. It would be difficult to justify your main desktop PC at home being used for "business purposes only".

Then again I've known contractors who expense anything from their business clothes (suits, shirts etc) to plasma TVs ("it's got a PC in line so I can say that I use it for presentations"... lol yeah right try telling HMRC that).

It's all OK until you get investigated my friend.

[Phoenix]

I just bought a PC to use at home in the UK for connecting to the company server in France. The PC is in my office at home, so occasionally it will no doubt be used for non-work activity, but so is my PC at work. I did genuinely buy the PC purely so that I can work from home. Is that likely to make any difference?

n.b. I already sent the receipt in with my other expenses and haven't heard anything from my umbrella. I'm really not comfortable with the idea that umbrellas are giving out advice without any comeback on themselves at all if the tax people disagree at a later date. Does this apply to accountants as well??

But when you are permy an HR person kindly works out your Tax etc.....when you get a letter saying you have underpaid over the last 3 years, who do you think is liable?....the nice HR lady?.........NO YOU!

[foritisme]

My Umbrella company recently updated their expense policy to allow £500 per year for hardware. I now have 160G external hardrive containing my growing collection of art movies. It's a lonely life on the road At the end of this contract I will be going back to Ltd and my new company will buy the equipment off me

[Bovvered]

Even with your own Ltd Co there are limitations. It would be difficult to justify your main desktop PC at home being used for "business purposes only".

Don't be soft. My main PC at home is my server, which is used for development testing, backup of accounts code etc. My flash laptop is my day to day work horse. I'd like to see the IR argue with 3 years worth of accounts, forms, the code for my applications, my legit copies of Visual Studio etc.

Of course I'd never show them the games, but I wouldn't be in business without at least two computers.

[ChimpMaster]

Don't be soft. My main PC at home is my server, which is used for development testing, backup of accounts code etc. My flash laptop is my day to day work horse. I'd like to see the IR argue with 3 years worth of accounts, forms, the code for my applications, my legit copies of Visual Studio etc.

Of course I'd never show them the games, but I wouldn't be in business without at least two computers.

Did you also purchase a plasma TV for your company?

I'm not being narky, just wondering how many people bend the rules. My accountant is pretty much on the straight & narrow with expenses but sometimes I feel like I should be getting a lot more out of my company!

[Xena]

Did you also purchase a plasma TV for your company?

I'm not being narky, just wondering how many people bend the rules. My accountant is pretty much on the straight & narrow with expenses but sometimes I feel like I should be getting a lot more out of my company!

Nice try, Hector. So it is really TazMaN or is it actually TaxMaN?

Yeah, everyone's on the straight and narrow with expenses here.

[Bovvered]

Did you also purchase a plasma TV for your company?

lol, no I don't have a plasma TV, but how any business - let-alone an IT business - could operate in this day and age without a computer is beyond me. I suggest you tell your accountant to get a grip.

[Bovvered]

P.S. Is he charging you extra for giving him paper based accounts???

[ChimpMaster]

Nice try, Hector. So it is really TazMaN or is it actually TaxMaN?

Yeah, everyone's on the straight and narrow with expenses here.

lol haha yeah you got me, I'm a greedy old heckler who doesn't give a monkeys about you small "businesses". You might as well own up or we'll you you somehow. New Labour my ars*.