Reply to: Optical Care

[blacjac]

I thought this thread had died a death ages ago.......

[Mustang]

We should welcome John Humphries to the board...

....more like Jeremy Paxman!!

[Hiram King Of Tyre]

Not necessarily. You could use public transport.

Not practical. It takes 3 times as long

[expat]

Surely though Alan, if my company is based at home and I have to drive to the client, then driving is part of my job?

Not necessarily. You could use public transport.

[TheFaQQer]

reviving this thread,

i am short sighted and still have to strain to use the PC. I have paid already for my own glasses.

simply, can i claim the cost of my daily disposable lenses?

css_jay99

I wouldn't think so, since they are not specifically what you need for work.

If you needed different glasses for VDU work, then no problem claiming those, but since you need lenses anyway, then I wouldn't think you can claim them.

I've not read the thread, but remember it from last time it was active, and (as ever), IANAA.

[css_jay99]

reviving this thread,

i am short sighted and still have to strain to use the PC. I have paid already for my own glasses.

simply, can i claim the cost of my daily disposable lenses?

css_jay99

[TimberWolf]

The Chancellor’s Budget 2006

http://www.pwc.com/uk/budget/2006/pw...ty_Summary.pdf

VDU users: eye tests and glasses not a taxable benefit.

Employers are required by law to meet the cost of eye care tests and/ or corrective glasses for VDU use for their employees and, where they do so, no benefit in kind charge normally arises. However, strictly the exemption applies only to employers meeting these costs directly, and not where they are either reimbursed to the employees, or where the employees are provided with a voucher to pay for the glasses or eye test.

This anomaly is to be corrected, so that, regardless of how the arrangements for the provision are structured, the provision of glasses and eye care for VDU users will not be a taxable benefit. As a practical point, employers will be able to let their employees make their own eye-care arrangements, and simply reimburse the cost, which will allow greater flexibility and employee choice, and may also save administrative costs for the employer.

There is nothing to suggest that the legislation will be retrospective in effect; however, in practice HMRC does not appear to have pursued actively any liabilities arising because of the way in which these arrangements were
structured, so the change itself is unlikely to be of great consequence.

In addition, the measure provides HMRC with a new power to make regulations to exempt similar benefits in kind from a tax charge that would otherwise apply because they are being provided by means of a non-cash
voucher

[IR35 Avoider]

I made this mistake too - the glasses were carp and only lasted about 3 months before I had to replace them.

My two pairs are fine, a couple of years later, though to be fair the lenses in one pair are replacements from Boots, because of a mistake they made.

[TimberWolf]

To be honest I think it’s a good idea for everyone to wear glasses for long periods at a VDU. Being about -1.00 shortsighted is about right, so the eyes are in a relaxed state (looking to infinity) at about 1 metre. This would reduce eyestrain and ward off myopia in those with a predilection. Of course some opticians are still in the Stone Age when it comes to these things, so you may need to shop around for [a younger] expert that isn’t

[SueEllen]

Why go to an optician? Supermarkets sell positive lenses for about £20.

Yeah but they are nasty.

Plus as you are complying with a Health and Safety law it's only right that you get an expert to say you need them - that way you can get some nice designer frames.

[Sausage Surprise]

I only need glasses when working at my VDU. Since this is my business, then the glasses are wholly and exclusively...etc

For this reason NW agreed the cost of my specs to be tax deductible.

[TimberWolf]

If you are long-sighted and don't wear your glasses all the time except for reading, or short-sighted and mostly wear contacts but suffer from drier eyes while working in front of a VDU it should be easier to convince an optician that you need new glasses to comply with the VDU regulations.

Why go to an optician? Supermarkets sell positive lenses for about £20.

The myope (short-sighted) will have more of a difficulty since they will need underpowered minus lenses, and for that they would need a prescription.

[blacjac]

Awww that's no fun, your not biting any more......

[SueEllen]

So which is it SueEllen?
Is it clear or is it open to interpretation?

Ever thought of being a journalist.

[blacjac]

The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 make it clear that.........

In the case of laws they are open to wide interpretation until there is a test case in a higher court.


The law states "special" corrective appliances and as far as I'm concerned that just means glasses. You may have interpreted it differently.

So which is it SueEllen?
Is it clear or is it open to interpretation?