Working from a Motorhome

[malvolio]

Can I jump on the thread? I have a similar situation , but it's a campervan, I'm an agency nurses I will use it when working away from home.
I own it privately, so I guess I could claim back some milage and the pitch..
What about maintenance and the modification costs to the campervan (I'm converting it from a van).
Is there any way to claim those costs as ltd?

Quick answer - No.

Longer answer - it will immediately fail the "wholly and exclusively for business" test. YourCo is not a magic money pit, it is separate from you in all aspects, which explains a lot about what you can and can't claim. That includes its assets: YourCo can obviously own the vehicle and convert it, but you personally will get taxed every time you use it. And, of course, you would have to sell it the van at a commercial valuation.

As an aside, you will also have to ensure it is re-classified as a motorhome with DVLA rather than as a van, for various reasons (not least speed limits...). That may not be as simple as you may think.

[dardasim]

Can I jump on the thread? I have a similar situation , but it's a campervan, I'm an agency nurses I will use it when working away from home.
I own it privately, so I guess I could claim back some milage and the pitch..
What about maintenance and the modification costs to the campervan (I'm converting it from a van).
Is there any way to claim those costs as ltd?

[Lance]

I work from a motorhome occasionally.
It is personally owned. I have used it instead of hotels when visiting clients sites.

So the claims I have made from my LTD are:
- 45p per mile for business miles
- the site fees where the entire purpose of me being there is for work

It basically saves the company a few quid as it pays £25 a night for the site which is less than most hotels.

I have even reclaimed from my client.


the biggest problem is getting to the clients site. They often don't want their car park to look the lay byes on the A65 the week before Appleby Horse Fair.
And motorhomes are often quite a bit taller than the 2m entrance to car parks.


I have also worked whilst on holiday in the motorhome. There is no claim I can make for that

[northernladuk]

Have you tried asking your accountant?

[jamesbrown]

You're asking the wrong question.

Your company can purchase anything it wants that can be legally purchased.

The tax implications for you and your company are another matter and that is probably what you intended to ask about.

[malvolio]

In that case it's no different to a company car. You will be taxed on the BIK element as normal if YourCo owns it (and beware of insurance, which will be difficult to arrange since every policy I've seen excludes business use), or you can own it personally and claim business mileage for any work-related journeys. Since it is essentially a leisure vehicle and you will have full access to it, you can't treat it as a wholly exclusive business expense.

[psuspiro]

Yes. Will be bring into the UK

[NotAllThere]

So the motorhome is currently in another country, but you're bringing it into the UK.

[psuspiro]

Thanks for your answers. I already have a home in the UK and my goal is not living in the motorhome but work from there, using it as an office. Regarding to the other points that you mentioned, I don't think they need to be considered. Only my laptap, my mobile phone, and my brain is required. I guess my question is more related to the accounting and legal framework on costing a motorhome, through a limited company structure

[WTFH]

Hello, welcome to the forum.

This is a variation on a question that we get asked regularly.

You say you are UK resident, so do you already have a home in the UK?
When you say you will be working remotely from the motorhome, will that be in the UK or outside the UK?
Have you checked with your clients if they are happy for you to access their systems (or keep their equipment) in a vehicle, and not a secure building?
Have you checked with the caravan parks, etc, that you would be staying in, that they allow businesses to be run from them?
What were you plans for internet connections?

Since you would be living in it, how would you pay the company back for your living time?

[psuspiro]

I'm about to buy a motorhome and will be working remotely from there. I would like to know, as a owner of a small IT consultancy limited company, I can use my business to pay for the motorhome. Eg: buy it as a business asset, or rent from my self as a business office, or anything else that covers the cost of the motorhome
PS: I'm a UK resident, the business is also registered in the UK, but the motorhome is from a European country. Thanks