Getting the Company to Pay

Part 1 - Expense claims

1. Why claim expenses?

1.1. Putting expenses through your business

1.2. Can you charge everything to your company?

1.3. How much can you save?

1.4. The tax rules

2. Claiming through your company

2.1. How do you claim as an employee?

2.2. How can you claim expenses as a director shareholder?

3. Scrutiny from HMRC

3.1. How will HMRC know?

3.2. How should you react?

3.3. HMRC attack

3.4. Expense claims

3.5. Valuing benefits in kind

3.6. The third umpire

3.7. What if you just trust to luck?

4. Your expenses claim

4.1. Introduction

4.2. Standard claim forms

4.3. Guidance for employees

4.4. Expenses in foreign currencies

4.5. Start-up expenses

5. Your company’s expenses policy

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Company money

5.3. Is the policy enforced?

5.4. What should you include in the policy?

5.5. Expense categories

6. Mileage allowance

6.1. The expense

6.2. Business journeys

6.3. Costs incurred

6.4. VAT recovery

6.5. Reportable?

7. Other motoring expenses

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Examples

7.3. VAT

8. UK fares and travel

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Taxi fares

8.3. Personal travel

8.4. VAT

8.5. Reportable?

9. UK subsistence

9.1. The expense

9.2. Allowable subsistence and incidental expenses

9.3. Benchmark scale rates

9.4. Agreeing bespoke subsistence rates with HMRC

9.5. Incidental overnight expenses

9.6. VAT

10. Overseas travel and subsistence

10.1. Introduction

10.2. Benchmark rates for accommodation and subsistence

10.3. Incidental expenses

10.4. Passport and visa requirements

10.5. Exchange rates

10.6. VAT

10.7. Overseas travel policy

11. Hotels and other accommodation

11.1. The expense

11.2. Incidental expenditure

11.3. Accommodation for spouse/partner

11.4. Staying with friends

11.5. Overseas trips

11.6. VAT

12. Telephones

12.1. The expense

12.2. Company policy

12.3. VAT

13. Entertaining

13.1. The expense

13.2. Are there potential tax savings?

13.3. The paperwork

14. Computer consumables

14.1. The expense

14.2. Exemption available?

14.3. VAT

15. Working from home

15.1. Introduction

15.2. The £6 per week allowance

15.3. Matching additional expenditure

15.4. Broadband connection

15.5. Volunteering to work from home

15.6. VAT

16. Miscellaneous expenses

16.1. The expense

16.2. Office supplies

16.3. Subscriptions to professional organisations

16.4. Interest and other costs on a personal credit card

16.5. Eye tests and glasses

17. Cash advances

17.1. Cash expenses

17.2. HMRC’s view

17.3. Advances for expenses

17.4. Euros

17.5. The paperwork

18. Maximising VAT recovery

18.1. Introduction

18.2. Valid VAT receipts

18.3. The VAT risk

18.4. VAT recovery - examples

18.5. In your expenses policy

18.6. VAT on EU expenses

18.7. Freelancer’s expenses

Part 2 - Further angles and ideas

1. Use of home by a company

1.1. The expense

1.2. What are the potential tax savings?

1.3. The paperwork

2. Garden maintenance

2.1. The expense

2.2. What it might cost

2.3. What are the potential tax savings?

2.4. The paperwork

3. Gifts

3.1. The expense

3.2. What are the potential tax savings?

3.3. The paperwork

4. Language lessons

4.1. The expense

4.2. What it might cost

4.3. What are the potential tax savings?

4.4. The paperwork

5. Magazine subscriptions

5.1. The expense

5.2. What it might cost

5.3. What are the potential tax savings?

5.4. The paperwork

6. Paying for a holiday

6.1. The expense

6.2. What it might cost

6.3. What are the potential tax savings?

6.4. The paperwork

7. Private tutors and childcare

7.1. The expense

7.2. What it might cost

7.3. What are the potential tax savings?

7.4. The childcare policy

8. School fees

8.1. The expense

8.2. What are the potential tax savings?

8.3. Example

8.4. The paperwork

9. Personal trainers

9.1. The expense

9.2. What are the potential tax savings?

9.3. The paperwork

10. Cars for the family

10.1. The expense

10.2. What it might cost

10.3. What are the potential tax savings?

10.4. The paperwork

11. Company plane (or yacht)

11.1. The expense

11.2. What are the potential tax savings?

11.3. The paperwork

12. Gym membership

12.1. The expense

12.2. What are the potential tax savings?

12.3. Example

12.4. The paperwork

13. Garage storage

13.1. The expense

13.2. The paperwork

14. Nannies

14.1. The expense

14.2. What it might cost

14.3. What are the potential tax savings?

14.4. The paperwork

15. The weekend away

15.1. The expense

15.2. What are the potential tax savings?

15.3. The paperwork

16. Domestic help

16.1. The expense

16.2. What it might cost

16.3. What are the potential tax savings?

16.4. The paperwork

17. Use of the company villa

17.1. The expense

17.2. What it might cost

17.3. What are the potential tax savings?

17.4. The paperwork

18. Advisors’ fees

18.1. The expense

18.2. What it might cost

18.3. What are the potential tax savings?

18.4. The paperwork

19. Parking near work

19.1. The expense

19.2. What it might cost

19.3. What are the potential tax savings?

19.4. The paperwork

20. Computer equipment

20.1. The expense

20.2. What it might cost

20.3. What are the potential tax savings?

20.4. The paperwork

21. Technical notes

21.1. Use of home by a company

21.2. Garden maintenance

21.3. Gifts

21.4. Language lessons

21.5. Magazine subscriptions

21.6. Paying for a holiday

21.7. Private tutors

21.8. School fees

21.9. Personal trainer

21.10. Cars for the family

21.11. Company plane (or yacht)

21.12. Gym membership

21.13. Garage storage

21.14. Nannies

21.15. The weekend away

21.16. Domestic help

21.17. Use of the company villa

21.18. Advisors’ fees

21.19. Parking near work

21.20. Computer equipment