Personal Mobile Phone

[NotAllThere]

Go freelance, then you're the director and you decide policy.

[tino]

Hi,

I work for a small Consultancy. All consultants are provided with a Blackberry. Most have got rid of their personal phones so they don't have to carry 2 phones around. I didn't want to do this as a) I don't particularly like Blackerrys and b) I didn't want to lose my personal phone number. I asked my directors what to do - they suggested I forfeit my Blackberry and claim my personal phone bill as expenses. I agreed to this and have been doing this for over a year.

1 or 2 other employees have now asked about doing this and are being told by the directors that they won't be able to claim the full amount... that there will be an 'allowance' due to tax implications.

The directors have not told me my claim is affected by this. I have only heard the above through the grapevine... Does anyone know where I stand in this situation from a tax perspective; bearing in mind the primary use of my personal contract phone is connecting to my company exchange email. It is a benefit in kind?

Thanks in advance

Keep the two phones then

[ASB]

The usage which is individually billed and visible as such is allowable against tax. Nothing else is.

Theres a load of stuff on HMRC.

Of course it is perfectly possible for the co. to reimburse you whatever it wants, but anything in excess of the above is a BIK.

[nahguam]

Hi,

I work for a small Consultancy. All consultants are provided with a Blackberry. Most have got rid of their personal phones so they don't have to carry 2 phones around. I didn't want to do this as a) I don't particularly like Blackerrys and b) I didn't want to lose my personal phone number. I asked my directors what to do - they suggested I forfeit my Blackberry and claim my personal phone bill as expenses. I agreed to this and have been doing this for over a year.

1 or 2 other employees have now asked about doing this and are being told by the directors that they won't be able to claim the full amount... that there will be an 'allowance' due to tax implications.

The directors have not told me my claim is affected by this. I have only heard the above through the grapevine... Does anyone know where I stand in this situation from a tax perspective; bearing in mind the primary use of my personal contract phone is connecting to my company exchange email. It is a benefit in kind?

Thanks in advance