Reply to: Receipts

[MirrorMe]

Also could look suspect if you are claiming rent for anywhere as if you are in a hotel you have no place to prepare the food however if you are renting a full on house at your contract they may take the view you can do whatever it is you do at home.

Does that mean I can claim expenses if I stay in a hotel but not if I rent a house? This is very confusing. :-(

[ASB]

SandyDown,

Assuming you pass the allowable test (an argument you will have in any circumstances in an investigation) the second thing you need to establish is that you actually spent the momey. Common way of evidencing is generally a receipt.

From first hand experience if you have a reasonable quantity of receipts for what you are claiming, can establish a pattern and perhaps have some credit card slips etc this will tend to give HMIT a reasonable feeling that you have indeed spent the money.

Some years ago I was living in one of my other houses whilst working away - it was close to the client. Charging rent, bills, most of the council tax. For food etc I'd sometime eat out, but stuff in supermrkets etc. Had some receipts, obviously sometimes mixed. It was part of my last investigation and the inspector had no problems with it. Whether you would be as lucky remains to be seen.

If your inspector is going to push hard to disallow things the fact that you are short a few receipts won't have much bearing.

[Sockpuppet]

Am talking about having this food while working away from home, you can't expect someone to eat in a restaurant every single day.. anyway I have several food intolerances, so have to buy unprocessed food and need to read all ingredients in all food items before eating it to ensure I don't get ill.

Tell it to the judge

Seriously I would get this cleared with the Tax office instead of just claiming it. It has been general consensus that this must be proved.

Buying a sandwich, can of coke and bag of crisps probably won't get questioned.

Some rice, uncle bens, popadom etc will.

Also could look suspect if you are claiming rent for anywhere as if you are in a hotel you have no place to prepare the food however if you are renting a full on house at your contract they may take the view you can do whatever it is you do at home.

[SandyDown]

Its also generally agreed that you cannot just buy "food" and charge it as an expense and is safer to claim meals from a restaurant etc.

How can you separate this from your normal shop. I doubt many accountant would allow this and would expect you would have a damn hard time proving that is was "wholly incurred in the course of business".






* Just to keep malvolio happy: you can claim for what you like but expect to pay NIC on it if your are investigated and its not allowed.

Am talking about having this food while working away from home, you can't expect someone to eat in a restaurant every single day.. anyway I have several food intolerances, so have to buy unprocessed food and need to read all ingredients in all food items before eating it to ensure I don't get ill.

[Sockpuppet]

Its also generally agreed that you cannot just buy "food" and charge it as an expense and is safer to claim meals from a restaurant etc.

How can you separate this from your normal shop. I doubt many accountant would allow this and would expect you would have a damn hard time proving that is was "wholly incurred in the course of business".






* Just to keep malvolio happy: you can claim for what you like but expect to pay NIC on it if your are investigated and its not allowed.

[SandyDown]

OK, but receipts for brekkie, lunch and a mysterious third meal may be a bit much.

Oh Lawd!!! let me explain it gently... I go to tesco (or supermarket) in the morning or near lunch time I buy food for breakfast/lunch and dinner and some snacks too , have a receipt of food for £20-£25 or so... Tax man has one receipt of food, I have 3 meals and a couple of snacks everyone's happy.

[Sockpuppet]

Jeeez you guys taking the word ‘Lunch’ a bit too literally, OK so I am working away from home, I get receipt for food I purchased and ate - where would it say the word ‘Lunch’ on the receipt??? Nowhere!! Then whether I eat my food I purchased at breakfast at lunch or dinner the tax man doesn’t have to know my eating schedule - KWIM??

OK, but receipts for brekkie, lunch and a mysterious third meal may be a bit much.

[SandyDown]

Jeeez you guys taking the word ‘Lunch’ a bit too literally, OK so I am working away from home, I get receipt for food I purchased and ate - where would it say the word ‘Lunch’ on the receipt??? Nowhere!! Then whether I eat my food I purchased at breakfast at lunch or dinner the tax man doesn’t have to know my eating schedule - KWIM??

[SouthRoute55]

Anyone keeps petrol receipts, I know they are not technically required, but just keep them out of a habit, but would like to get rid of them now.

[Sockpuppet]

Sorry - confused myself there, I've been working away from home for a while, but recently commuting from home, my accountant said if working away from home claim for everything, including your cup of coffee!!

No.

You're going to have to eat lunch whether you commute from home or not.

Breakfast/evening meal can be claimed as if you are in a hotel you can claim 2 pieces of toast you would have at home would not come to the £6 that you have to spend on the hotel breakfast.

However with lunch its not incurred in the same way as its not wholly business related (i.e. you are not in a hotel so almost "forced" to use the restaurant)

[SouthRoute55]

Anyone keeps petrol receipts, I know they are not technically required, but just keep them out of a habit, but would like to get rid of them now.

[SandyDown]

Sorry - confused myself there, I've been working away from home for a while, but recently commuting from home, my accountant said if working away from home claim for everything, including your cup of coffee!!

[r0bly0ns]

Thought general conscensus was one could claim not lunches anyway.

Yep, I have always been told that lunch is something you would have to provide when working at your normal place of work so is not something you can claim for when working at a temporary workplace...

[xoggoth]

Thought general conscensus was one could claim not lunches anyway.

[damo111176]

Is this serious? If HMRC speak to you then yes you will get done for not having receipts but claiming anyway...but I am guessing you already know this due to the amount of posts you have on this site and I am sure you are pulling our leg!