Reply to: Glasses

[malvolio]

"So a VDU user could put through their Armani / Anti scratch / polarized / Reactive Lenses glasses so long as its says for VDU use only

Not quite: as long as they are for VDU user only.

Bit of a bugger this legality thing, innit...

[CloudWalker]

"So a VDU user could put through their Armani / Anti scratch / polarized / Reactive Lenses glasses so long as its says for VDU use only

[UglyBetty]

"Basic rule" of being able to claim for lenses but frames.... never heard that one before.



Yes. here and here.



and...


So if the optician is prepared to declare that the prescription, or an element of it, is solely for VDU use then that's what you can claim for.

Thanks. I'll play safe and pay for them myself.

[Scrag Meister]

I get most of my glasses for free, if you keep your eyes open in the pub there are some quite nice etched or embossed ones around.

Otter Breweries, J2O, etc...

[Old Greg]

I am not sure that you would get away with the cost of glasses unless you only wore them for computer work - if you wore them for anything else surely you'd have duality of purpose

WLS

When I worked in the industry many years ago...

You could claim for a pair of specs that were solely for computer use. This in effect is an intermediate prescription. A simple prescription may say something like



R +1.00 Add +2.00
L +0.75 Add +2.00

Most people won't need a prescription for the distance (R +1.00, L +0.75), but they will for near vision for reading (R +3.00, L +2.75), and you will get one of:

Prescription reading glasses
Off the shelf reading glasses (+2.75 or +3.00)
Bifocals
Trifocals (rare)
Varifocals

The only ones of these that contain an Intermediate prescription for computer use are the trifocals and varifocals but they have a dual use for reading so are not claimable.

If your optometrist adds an intermediate prescription (which would probably be a +1.00 add, not a +2.00 add), and you but an Intermediate only prescription, you should be able to claim that, but most people find that a pain as you struggle to read at reading distance.

[Contreras]

"Basic rule" of being able to claim for lenses but frames.... never heard that one before.

Is there HMRC guidance?

Yes. here and here.

Where an employee is required to use a visual display unit (VDU) as part of his or her normal duties, no chargeable benefit will arise on:

• an eyesight test, and
• the cost of spectacles or contact lenses required solely for VDU use that an eyesight test shows are necessary where

the test is required under Health and Safety at Work regulations and, if shown to be necessary by the test, the corrective appliances (e.g. glasses and contact lenses) are available generally to employees.

Where spectacles are for general use, but include a special prescription for VDU use, a proportion of the cost relating to the special prescription will be exempt from a chargeable benefit.

and...

As there will be a need to identify that part of the prescription which relates specifically to VDU use, employers need to be reminded that it is advisable to keep itemised receipts for both the eye test and the prescription.

So if the optician is prepared to declare that the prescription, or an element of it, is solely for VDU use then that's what you can claim for.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

I am not sure that you would get away with the cost of glasses unless you only wore them for computer work - if you wore them for anything else surely you'd have duality of purpose

[northernladuk]

Have to admit I claim everything I can that is valid and unquestionable. Complex or grey issues I am happy to leave alone due to it just being the 20% discount.

[kal]

I have expenses to input each month (train/bus travel and a few hotel nights) so a few more receipts to log onto my accountants spreadsheet and then file away is no hassle and takes no time at all.

[SueEllen]

All expenses are a hassle. Big things are worth it; getting receipts and doing extra bookkeeping for something that only saves you a couple of quid a year isn't.

But I guess it depends how much you value your time.

Doesn't take me long to do expenses so adding one for things like glasses isn't a hassle.

Though to be fair I tend to buy a lot of things in one month and nothing in the following months.

Oh and I always get receipts for things whether they are for personal or business use - to many products/customer service in this country are shoddy.

[VectraMan]

Do you regard all your expenses as a hassle?

All expenses are a hassle. Big things are worth it; getting receipts and doing extra bookkeeping for something that only saves you a couple of quid a year isn't.

But I guess it depends how much you value your time.

[malvolio]

+1, I've never understood that, even if its a couple of quid I claim it if I'm allowed, it all adds up at the end of the day...

Yeah, totally agree. I mean if I add in all the incidentals I can claim over and above obvious working expenses, I could make maybe another £200 a year... About half what it would cost me in time to do the paperwork

[kal]

Do you regard all your expenses as a hassle?

+1, I've never understood that, even if its a couple of quid I claim it if I'm allowed, it all adds up at the end of the day...

[SueEllen]

Remember that you only ultimately save 20%. With things like that I tend to think it's not worth the hassle.

Do you regard all your expenses as a hassle?

[UglyBetty]

Remember that you only ultimately save 20%. With things like that I tend to think it's not worth the hassle.

40% if I was to take the same money as divvies. But I take your point.