Business mileage
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Discussion

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,397 posts

200 months

Tuesday 27th September 2022
quotequote all
If an employee spends a few days away from home for work, driving a company vehicle which is declared to the tax man as unavailable for private use.

If the employee needs to use the vehicle in the following scenarios would either be seen by the taxman as private use:

1. To drive to a nearby supermarket to buy food for an evening meal while staying away from home for work.
2. To drive to a beach for some exercise while staying away from home for work.

In both cases the employee would be several hours away from home so it's not as easy as using their own vehicle.

Interested in your thoughts?

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

31,259 posts

251 months

Tuesday 27th September 2022
quotequote all
Almost irrespective of the technicalities, the reality is that's reasonable behaviour.

How and why would anybody actually report any of that as private?

...assuming said employee doesn't work for HMRC that is hehe

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

31,259 posts

251 months

Tuesday 27th September 2022
quotequote all
...and assuming the beach isn't in Florida

2 GKC

2,193 posts

121 months

Tuesday 27th September 2022
quotequote all
No

bristolbaron

5,270 posts

228 months

Tuesday 27th September 2022
quotequote all
surveyor said:
If an employee spends a few days away from home for work, driving a company vehicle which is declared to the tax man as unavailable for private use.

If the employee needs to use the vehicle in the following scenarios would either be seen by the taxman as private use:

1. To drive to a nearby supermarket to buy food for an evening meal while staying away from home for work.
2. To drive to a beach for some exercise while staying away from home for work.

In both cases the employee would be several hours away from home so it's not as easy as using their own vehicle.

Interested in your thoughts?
I think both would be reasonable considered to be incidental to the trip. It may become questionable however if:

1. Employee was picking up a takeaway to take to a friends house who lives in the area they were working.

2. Employee was meeting others on the beach to play a group sport.

IANA..whoever makes up the rules about this sort of stuff.

StevieBee

14,279 posts

271 months

Tuesday 27th September 2022
quotequote all
surveyor said:
would either be seen by the taxman as private use:
Absolutely not. The employee has been sent away on company business - that time determined by when he left the office / home and when he returned.


surveyor

Original Poster:

18,397 posts

200 months

Tuesday 27th September 2022
quotequote all
Interesting folks, thanks for your replies.

They are the opposite of an accountant who I felt was being over cautious.

Fortunately I'm looking on from the sides on this one...

MustangGT

13,421 posts

296 months

Wednesday 28th September 2022
quotequote all
StevieBee said:
Absolutely not. The employee has been sent away on company business - that time determined by when he left the office / home and when he returned.
This, provided it is reasonable and not excessive. There is no opportunity for the employee to park up the van and get into his/her privately owned vehicle.

quinny100

995 posts

202 months

Thursday 29th September 2022
quotequote all
I used to do lot of on site assignments - usually 3 days to a week long staying in a hotel and take a pool car.

I'd record my mileage for Office - Customer Site, any mileage I did whilst I was away I just recorded as "Local", then my mileage back to the office. I'd often drive out to get some dinner, go to the cinema, drive out for a walk, occasionally visit friends who were local etc. All my colleagues did the same.

Ask the Accountant this: Why would your evening meal be allowed as a tax free expense when working away, but driving a company vehicle to go somewhere to buy it not be?

HMRC never had a issue with it and they did check our pool car records on more than one occasion.

Percy Cushion

1,271 posts

236 months

Thursday 29th September 2022
quotequote all
surveyor said:
Interesting folks, thanks for your replies.

They are the opposite of an accountant who I felt was being over cautious.

Fortunately I'm looking on from the sides on this one...
You need to find a new accountant

Scrump

23,494 posts

174 months

Thursday 29th September 2022
quotequote all
The advice from your accountant is consistent with advice I have received from a large accountancy firm on exactly the same question.
Not saying I agree with it.