Reply to: Reasonable number of computers?

[Old Greg]

Really? An iPad is 30% smaller and 40% lighter. That's pretty significant. It also has a MUCH longer battery life and is much easier for one-handed use on the move.

Buy one for each hand. Ideal for arguing with one's sockie on CUK.

[DaveB]

Maybe it's me but I like to get 5 years out of my computers. My accountant would prefer me to buy them once depreciation hits £0 (3 years I think).

I definitely need buy a new printer.

3 years is the norm for businesses writing of kit through depreciation. Doesn't mean you have to buy a new one at that point, it's just the most tax efficient way of doing it.

[cojak]

Every year??? Are you sure that is good advice? I can see how you could argue it with HMRC and quite possibly get away with it but it would a point for argument rather than a quick sign off surely?

Maybe it's me but I like to get 5 years out of my computers. My accountant would prefer me to buy them once depreciation hits £0 (3 years I think).

I definitely need buy a new printer.

[doomage]

Really? An iPad is 30% smaller and 40% lighter. That's pretty significant. It also has a MUCH longer battery life and is much easier for one-handed use on the move.

Exactly, leaving one hand free for...waggling your finger at certain posters on CUK

[SueEllen]

This hit the nail on the head for me. A company can buy whatever they want in the field in which they operate.

I sometimes wonder if a lot of you have worked as pretend companies for so long you have forgot how real companies work. They buy whatever is needed and dont go through all this hand wringing worrying about what the tax man may think, who never calls anyway.

Part of the problem is accountants on here see small business owners trying to put things through the books like furniture for their living away from home accommodation, or a 50 inch tv for their living room that has absolutely nothing to do with their business.

Though it's funny how people on here fall for advertising of computing products to consumers and instantly presume if you run a business that's what you will be using it for.

[SueEllen]

I'm not much of a techie but I certainly reckon I could get the case off.

I should have explained myself a bit clearer.

In some netbooks/laptops it's really easy to add additional memory as they have a section on the bottom where you just undo a couple of screws and then can add/change the modules.

In other netbooks/laptops it's a bit of a fiddle as you have to remove the keyboard by either pressing down clips, or undoing some screws, or doing both.

The manual of the netbook/laptop should tell how to do it if it's easy, otherwise do a search on Youtube for your model and there should be a video showing you how to do it.

[d000hg]

I would hardly class the Ipad as more portable than a Mac Book Air. It is 2 inches smaller and 400g lighter than the mac book air and you don't have to open a lid. Hardly justification that.

Really? An iPad is 30% smaller and 40% lighter. That's pretty significant. It also has a MUCH longer battery life and is much easier for one-handed use on the move.

[escapeUK]

"Wholly and exclusively" applies to expenses incurred carrying out the duties of employment, not to assets purchased by (or on behalf) of the company.

This hit the nail on the head for me. A company can buy whatever they want in the field in which they operate.

I sometimes wonder if a lot of you have worked as pretend companies for so long you have forgot how real companies work. They buy whatever is needed and dont go through all this hand wringing worrying about what the tax man may think, who never calls anyway.

[Old Greg]

1. Change operating system to a linux favour
2. Increase RAM - though depending on the model getting the case of will be a b*tch.

I'm not much of a techie but I certainly reckon I could get the case off.

[SueEllen]

+1 my netbook turned out not to be a great buy. Unless anyone knows how to improve performance for not much investment?

1. Change operating system to a linux favour
2. Increase RAM - though depending on the model getting the case of will be a b*tch.

[eek]

We have a winner... shame it is free

Agree with Greg, DaveB and OG and been an interesting debate but back to reality...

Chances of being investigated = Slim to nil
Chances of investigator being bothered = negligble
Chances of befudling investigator with tech jargon he doesn't understand = high
Penalty if disallowed = neglible
Chances of investigator getting ipad out to do some adding up = high..

Fill your boots..

Hows that?

+1

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to northernladuk again.

[northernladuk]

It does appear, in practice, that many ltd co. contractor businesses are primarily involved in posting on CUK all day. Therefore any device which enables this primary business function must surely be claimable.

We have a winner... shame it is free

Agree with Greg, DaveB and OG and been an interesting debate but back to reality...

Chances of being investigated = Slim to nil
Chances of investigator being bothered = negligble
Chances of befudling investigator with tech jargon he doesn't understand = high
Penalty if disallowed = neglible
Chances of investigator getting ipad out to do some adding up = high..

Fill your boots..

Hows that?

[doomage]

It does appear, in practice, that many ltd co. contractor businesses are primarily involved in posting on CUK all day. Therefore any device which enables this primary business function must surely be claimable.

[Old Greg]

Yep, just remember, if the motivation for buying an ipad is business-driven, but it ends up not being useful for business, this in itself does not make it an un-claimable business expense - it just makes it a bad business decision. Its like those swiss balls I bought for the office a few years back - now consigned to the storage room.

+1 my netbook turned out not to be a great buy. Unless anyone knows how to improve performance for not much investment?

[Greg@CapitalCity]

People can justify what they want and put it through their business for a whopping saving of 20% at the end of the day, am just playing devils advocate on the whole thing so people think a little.

Yep, just remember, if the motivation for buying an ipad is business-driven, but it ends up not being useful for business, this in itself does not make it an un-claimable business expense - it just makes it a bad business decision. Its like those swiss balls I bought for the office a few years back - now consigned to the storage room.