The Book-keepers Forum (BKF)

Post Info TOPIC: Lunch expenses


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Date:
Lunch expenses


Hi,

I'm a freelance graphic designer attempting to do my own book-keeping this year. Would someone who's au fait with Sage be kind enough to help? I need to include all of my lunch expenses in the app (I think I'm entitled to up to £10 a day for food)? At the moment I have a huge pile of receipts I need to file away but unsure where to start in the software. I'd also like to know how to file my travel in there as well, at the moment I'm using my phone to pay on the tube so have no physical receipts - will HMRC accept a digital copy of my travel which I can easily download from the TfL site?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Claire 



__________________


Master Book-keeper

Status: Offline
Posts: 8646
Date:

Hi
This is not really a sage question. Why do you think you are entitled to be paid for food you would eat anyway? Plus travel for commuting is not allowed.

This site is for professional accountants and bookkeepers to exchange advice, not for members of the public. The only advice I can give is to get a good Accountant on board - would you expect me to do my own graphic design with no/little knowledge? Certainly if I did I wouldnt end up with fines from anyone for doing it incorrectly, but you can end up with massive penalties if you do something wrong with your accounts and tax. An Accountant can actually save you cash so the 'I cant afford one' generally doesnt apply.

__________________

 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position



Forum Moderator & Expert

Status: Offline
Posts: 11981
Date:

Hi Claire,

whilst I concur with Joannes statement about the sites intended audience, I am interested to know your reasoning behind the belief that you are entitled to tax relief on meals? I've had several clients under that illusion and I wondered where you got the information from that led you to that belief?
You don't mention what sort of business model that you use (self employed or limited) or state how long you have worked at the site that you are currently working at or how long from the start of your contract the end of it is. These may seem insignificant questions but when it comes to travel expenses they are very relevant.

Shaun.

__________________

Shaun

Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.



Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Date:

Hi Shaun,

Thanks for your response. I'm a limited company, and have only recently returned to freelancing after a few years. The last time I freelanced I had to work through an umbrella company and all of the expenses  mentioned in the original post were ones I was told could be claimed back, so I naively assumed these were HMRC perks for freelancers/LTD companies and not specific to the umbrella company business model (whatever that may be). 

The contract started in April and may end in a fortnight.

Claire.

 



__________________


Master Book-keeper

Status: Offline
Posts: 3904
Date:

by_claire wrote:

Hi Shaun,

Thanks for your response. I'm a limited company, and have only recently returned to freelancing after a few years. The last time I freelanced I had to work through an umbrella company and all of the expenses  mentioned in the original post were ones I was told could be claimed back, so I naively assumed these were HMRC perks for freelancers/LTD companies and not specific to the umbrella company business model (whatever that may be). 

The contract started in April and may end in a fortnight.

Claire.

 


 Hi Claire

Umbrella's were notorious for claiming these types of expenses when they weren't really allowed, and HMRC have clamped down massively in this area. HMRC view is that you would be eating anyway and unless it's work of an itinerant nature or a one off journey outside the area it's a big no no.

I would also check your eligibility to claim travel expenses, it very much depends on the contract you have and the way your Ltd Co is set up. Out of curiosity, are you outside IR35? Hopefully you are.

Sorry we can't help further, but as Joanne says, this is a forum for fellow bookkeepers and accountants, not business owners. Getting an accountant on board is really good advice though.



__________________

John 

 

 

 Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.



Forum Moderator & Expert

Status: Offline
Posts: 11981
Date:

Hi Claire,

sorry, just got bqack in from the office.

A john suggests, umbrella companies are commercial organisations that tried to win contractors by promising the earth and hoping that nobody noticed. Unfortunately for them HMRC did notice and you will notice that a lot of UC's disappeared.

There are far fewer now and those that remain generally promise much less.

The general rule on consumption is that we eat to live, we do not eat to work. Therefore there is no tax compensation for money that you would have spent anyway.

There are instances where overnight meals are allowed and there are different rules for long distance lorry drivers but for some one doing the same commute into the office that one's not going to fly.

Travel expenses "may" be claimable but again, as suggested by John, there are variables attached which really someone who knows the in's and outs of your contract and work pattern would need to review (inside or ourside IR35 there are expenses that can be claimed, it's just the level of claim available).

kindest regards,

Shaun.

__________________

Shaun

Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.



Master Book-keeper

Status: Offline
Posts: 8646
Date:

Edited out. Changed my mind



-- Edited by Cheshire on Thursday 21st of June 2018 11:06:27 PM

__________________

 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position



Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Date:

Thanks for taking the time to respond John. And yes I am outside of IR35 thankfully.



__________________


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Date:

Hi Shaun.

Yes, I always felt that the Limited Companies weren't operating fairly so makes senses they're folding. I think as John pointed out I need to get myself a good accountant. 

Apologies for using your forum without prior knowledge of your intended audience.

Kindest regards,

Claire 



__________________


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 359
Date:

by_claire wrote:

Hi Shaun.

Yes, I always felt that the Limited Companies weren't operating fairly so makes senses they're folding. I think as John pointed out I need to get myself a good accountant

Apologies for using your forum without prior knowledge of your intended audience.

Kindest regards,

Claire 


presume you mean Umbrella Companies rather than Limited.

 

think you will find that it was Joanne who mentioned getting a good accountant on board at the outset.



__________________

Caron



Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5
Date:

My apologies, yes I meant Umbrella. 



__________________


Master Book-keeper

Status: Offline
Posts: 3904
Date:

by_claire wrote:

Hi Shaun.

Yes, I always felt that the Limited Companies weren't operating fairly so makes senses they're folding. I think as John pointed out I need to get myself a good accountant.  Not me Miss, that was our Joanne

Apologies for using your forum without prior knowledge of your intended audience.

Kindest regards,

Claire 


Hi Claire, based on the accounts you've submitted to Companies House, you definitely need an accountant



__________________

John 

 

 

 Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
©2007-2024 The Book-keepers Forum (BKF). All Rights Reserved. The Book-keepers Forum (BKF) is a trading division of Bookcert Ltd. Registered in England Company Number 05782923. 2 Laurel House, 1 Station Rd, Worle, Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, BS22 6AR, United Kingdom. The Book-keepers Forum and BKF are trademarks of Bookcert Ltd. This forum is a discussion forum only. There will usually be more than one opinion to any question and any posting should not be viewed as a definitive solution. No responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any posting on this site is accepted by the contributors or The Book-keepers Forum. In all cases, appropriate professional advice should be sought before making a decision. We reserve the right to remove any postings which are offensive, libellous, self-promoting or engaged in covert marketing. We will not notify users of removals. The views expressed in the forum posts are those of the individual and do not necessary reflect or agree with those of The Book-keepers Forum. Any offensive or unsuitable posts will be removed by the moderators. Any reader of this forum can request for a post to be looked into by sending an email to: bookcertltd@gmail.com.

Privacy & Cookie Policy  About