Reply to: Two-year rule!

[xoggoth]

I think booklet 490 from HMRC has reasonable guidance on this.

[Grinder]

As has probably already been said, if you know from the outset that your contract is for 2 years, then no travel expenses at all can be claimed.
It should more accurately be called travel expense rules rather than the 24 month rule.

It would be great to have a 24 month deal

[BolshieBastard]

I found this topic using the search. Glad to read its a 24 month rule, not 12 as I feared.

As has probably already been said, if you know from the outset that your contract is for 2 years, then no travel expenses at all can be claimed.
It should more accurately be called travel expense rules rather than the 24 month rule.

[Grinder]

I found this topic using the search. Glad to read its a 24 month rule, not 12 as I feared.

[scooby]

All the more reason, when in put in such a situation, to ask for a 17 month and 3 week extension instead.

Thats what i did!! and only 37 days to go then i'm finally out of here! Altho they are talking about extending and moving the contract to another office...

[norrahe]

Similarly I spent three years pretty much non stop working for clients in the Square Mile. However I was working from home at least three days a week, so just escaped. At the exorbitant prices FGW were charging for return rail fares from Bath, I'm rather glad I did...

I normally have gaps between clients in the square mile, also the 8 months bench time last year would have helped.
It's very rare that i'll go straight to another contract, the longest I've been anywhere is now really and that's only 8 months.

will have to have words with my accountant about this.

[malvolio]

Similarly I spent three years pretty much non stop working for clients in the Square Mile. However I was working from home at least three days a week, so just escaped. At the exorbitant prices FGW were charging for return rail fares from Bath, I'm rather glad I did...

[RSoles]

I've run foul of the 24-months 40% rule twice now.

Spent nearly four years off and on on one site and eventually hit 40%.

spent the last three years working in another city with two clients five doors away from each other. Stopped expensing travel after the first eighteen months (six-month extension would have taken me to 24 months and one day).

Now going back to the first with a clean slate

[TheFaQQer]

Just out of interest, how many of you are actually on contracts that are approaching or you know will fall foul of the two years that actually stay away or have very large travelling expenses. Do many people really do this for 2 years?

My last two contracts (18 months and 6 months) were for different government clients but in the same area (Westminster). I turned down a 4 month extension because it would have taken me over the two years.

Two years of flying into Heathrow and staying in London

[northernladuk]

I'd still be wary about that - there is something in the rules about whether there is a reasonable expectation that you will be there for more than two years.

Have a look at the Expenses Guide section on contractor alliance.

Agreed. If they even suggest a longer one you are on a wing on a prayer on any sneaky workaround your going to implements surely.

Just out of interest, how many of you are actually on contracts that are approaching or you know will fall foul of the two years that actually stay away or have very large travelling expenses. Do many people really do this for 2 years?

[TheFaQQer]

All the more reason, when in put in such a situation, to ask for a 17 month and 3 week extension instead.

I'd still be wary about that - there is something in the rules about whether there is a reasonable expectation that you will be there for more than two years.

Have a look at the Expenses Guide section on contractor alliance.

[DiscoStu]

ROFL.. Classic

Saw this in the reading material offered..



Bet that is gonna catch a lot of people out who have long contract renewals but potentially pretty serious I would think.

All the more reason, when in put in such a situation, to ask for a 17 month and 3 week extension instead.

[northernladuk]

You don't really get this contracting lark do you?

ROFL.. Classic

Saw this in the reading material offered..

If you have a six month contract and accept a 24 month extension, the clock stops immediately and you can't claim for the next 18 months.

Bet that is gonna catch a lot of people out who have long contract renewals but potentially pretty serious I would think.

[DiscoStu]

This board does indeed have a seach facility and I have attempted to use it.

This board also happens to have countless threads, where people like you make contributions which are wholly devoid of any purpose except to berate and humiliate. Well done, your employers must be so proud of you!

You don't really get this contracting lark do you?

[TheFaQQer]

A tad worrying, given that in the last 5 years, "the city" is where I've been stuck and that's where all my jobs are ever going to be (despite trying to get out).

Also my location can vary in the smoke from one clientco on one side of the road, to another on the other side to one slightly down the road and the other around the corner.

The lloyd's market isn't the most varied of geographical locations

Let's hope you don't get any kind of audit, then. I'd start saving, BIG STYLE - as Mal says, you're stuffed. The expenses that you've claimed are all deemed income which you haven't paid PAYE or NIC on. IIRC, SallyAnne was threatened about it for one contract that she did in Manchester - some kind of horrific bill but SJD argued that they were genuine expenses and she got off (because they were genuine expenses and she was just working away from home).

There are some expenses that you would still be able to claim, but travel and subsistence aren't allowed. If you look on the HMRC website, there are some good examples that make it clear that it is the geographical location not the client.

Edit - SallyAnne's thing was nothing to do with the 24 month rule. However, HMRC tried to claim that she was a permie and disallowed her travel, accommodation and subsistence bill - tax demand of 11k for the year. Linky.