simple tax question - can i claim for......

simple tax question - can i claim for......

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Discussion

sawman

Original Poster:

4,953 posts

236 months

Tuesday 6th July 2010
quotequote all
I'm doing a short term contract which involves 2 nights accomodation and 2 tanks of petrol per week. This is at my cost, I am employed as PAYE can i claim any of these expenses back from the tax man???

cheers for any tips

s

peterbredde

775 posts

206 months

Tuesday 6th July 2010
quotequote all
If your contract states that these are 'at your cost' I doubt you can claim any allowances. You may be entitled tax relief on the business miles at the difference between the rate paid by your employer (nil) and the AA/HMRC approved rate of 40p/mile. So, if you did 1,000 miles you would get tax relief at 1000 x 40p (40p-nil) = £400. Assuming that you were a 40% taxpayer this would equate to a £160 rebate.

sawman

Original Poster:

4,953 posts

236 months

Tuesday 6th July 2010
quotequote all
peterbredde said:
If your contract states that these are 'at your cost' I doubt you can claim any allowances. You may be entitled tax relief on the business miles at the difference between the rate paid by your employer (nil) and the AA/HMRC approved rate of 40p/mile. So, if you did 1,000 miles you would get tax relief at 1000 x 40p (40p-nil) = £400. Assuming that you were a 40% taxpayer this would equate to a £160 rebate.
I'll have to check my contract, i dont think it specifically mentions my cost, its just implied (its a standard NHS contract) the mileage is mainly getting there and back, they would pay me for mileage during my working hours.

peterbredde

775 posts

206 months

Tuesday 6th July 2010
quotequote all
Ah, in that case, if it's not even business mileage (business milage would be travelling somewhere other than your normal place of work in performance of your duties, and not commuting) then your probably not in a good position to claim for reliefs. Even if your contract is silent on the accomodation and it is something you have to suffer by virtue of the distance from home to work then your probably stuck with it.

Sorry.

I'd love to be proved wrong on this by the way - anyone?

Eric Mc

122,688 posts

271 months

Tuesday 6th July 2010
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Do you have a normal place of work?

sawman

Original Poster:

4,953 posts

236 months

Tuesday 6th July 2010
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Do you have a normal place of work?
its a bit complicated, i work for two nhs trusts(separate contract for each), which are in different parts of the country, i live near one, but have to travel to and stay over to work in the other one. Once im at the 2nd place i dont need to travel very much

Eric Mc

122,688 posts

271 months

Wednesday 7th July 2010
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Are they totally separate employments?

sawman

Original Poster:

4,953 posts

236 months

Wednesday 7th July 2010
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Are they totally separate employments?
yes 2 contracts, 2 nhs trusts

Eric Mc

122,688 posts

271 months

Thursday 8th July 2010
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And you have two separare bases of work for the ywo seprarate jobs?

sawman

Original Poster:

4,953 posts

236 months

Thursday 8th July 2010
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
And you have two separare bases of work for the ywo seprarate jobs?
yep, 200 miles apart.

Eric Mc

122,688 posts

271 months

Thursday 8th July 2010
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What is your normal "commute" to each of these two completely separate employments?

sawman

Original Poster:

4,953 posts

236 months

Thursday 8th July 2010
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
What is your normal "commute" to each of these two completely separate employments?
one is 7 miles from my house, so 14 miles round trip twice a week, the other one is 190 miles, i do one return trip each week and two nights hotel accommodation

Eric Mc

122,688 posts

271 months

Thursday 8th July 2010
quotequote all
sawman said:
Eric Mc said:
What is your normal "commute" to each of these two completely separate employments?
one is 7 miles from my house, so 14 miles round trip twice a week, the other one is 190 miles, i do one return trip each week and two nights hotel accommodation
I don't think you can claim either as the trips would count as your "normal commute" - which is ineligible for tax claims.

LC23

1,290 posts

231 months

Friday 9th July 2010
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Agree with Eric on this one. Two separate permanent workplaces. Both journeys from home equal ordinary commuting. And this is far from a simple tax question - temp vs. perm workplaces is one of the trickiest areas to get to the bottom of.

Just a thought however, could you claim at least some of the costs if you actually travel between the offices. This would mean your journey starts at one office and ends at the other. Not from home.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM32035.h...

sawman

Original Poster:

4,953 posts

236 months

Friday 9th July 2010
quotequote all
LC23 said:
Agree with Eric on this one. Two separate permanent workplaces. Both journeys from home equal ordinary commuting. And this is far from a simple tax question - temp vs. perm workplaces is one of the trickiest areas to get to the bottom of.

Just a thought however, could you claim at least some of the costs if you actually travel between the offices. This would mean your journey starts at one office and ends at the other. Not from home.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM32035.h...
thats an interesting point, but i dont think it would fly. I guess if it was wholly employed by one trust and seconded to the other my travel & expenses might be recoupable.

I wasnt too troubled by this until i worked out how much it costs me per month.


sawman

Original Poster:

4,953 posts

236 months

Sunday 22nd August 2010
quotequote all
just to resurrect this thread.

It seems that my short term contract will be extended. If for arguments sake I was seconded from my local workplace to the other one, would that effect my tsx position with regard the travel expenses.


Eric Mc

122,688 posts

271 months

Sunday 22nd August 2010
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It might.

If you can establish that you only have one main "commute" then having to travel to some other location as part of that same employment would constitute additional travel. Normally, neing asked to travel as part of your job is claimable from your employer, If your employer is not reimbursing you amy travel costs you are incurring due to that particular employment, then you can make a claim through the tax system.