Tax relief on airmiles?

[Deep]

Hi
I'm attending some work related conferences/cpd abroad, the cost of which I can write off against tax.
The thing is that I'm using airmiles (and some cash) for the flights.

Obviously the airmiles have a value ie they cost money if one were to buy them. Is there a way to claim the value of the airmiles against tax?

Thank you

Edited by Deep on Sunday 20th April 12:11

[Mr Pointy]

How much did you actually pay for these airmiles & have you got an invoice/recipt?

[Deep]

Mr Pointy said:

How much did you actually pay for these airmiles & have you got an invoice/recipt?

They were earnt by spending on my Amex card.

Thanns

[Tim330]

If you purchased the airlines to pay for the flights then that should be OK. For miles earned from credit card spend no chance.

[Glassman]

/goes to check BP Rewards and Nectar card points.

[Simpo Two]

Tim330 said:

If you purchased the airlines to pay for the flights then that should be OK.

A rather pricey way of doing it

[Tim330]

Simpo Two said:

Tim330 said:

If you purchased the airlines to pay for the flights then that should be OK.

A rather pricey way of doing it

Usually but not always. For example with BA avios balance booster you can purchase them at 0.91p each. For certain routes that can be cheaper than a cash fare. Assuming there are reward flight available on that route.

[Deep]

Thanks, seems like that's a big fat no to my original question

[Sheepshanks]

Deep said:

They were earnt by spending on my Amex card.

Personal spending on your personal Amex card?

I think you might be using air miles wrong!

[Deep]

Sheepshanks said:

Personal spending on your personal Amex card?

I think you might be using air miles wrong!

Yes, personal spending on my personal card.

The flights are to attend conferences related to my profession, not to business related activity. However as they are necessary for my profession I can write off the expenses against my professional income.

Is that what you were referring to? ie why am I using airmiles from a personal card on what you may have thought were company related trips?

[AdeTuono]

Simpo Two said:

Tim330 said:

If you purchased the airlines to pay for the flights then that should be OK.

A rather pricey way of doing it

I got it, even if Tim 330 didn't.

[Sheepshanks]

Deep said:

.....

Is that what you were referring to? ie why am I using airmiles from a personal card on what you may have thought were company related trips?

Kind of - I was thinking it might be your own business.

Do you do your own tax return and how much detail do you have to provide? You could perhaps decide on a value and claim that - what's the worst that could happen?

[Deep]

Sheepshanks said:

Kind of - I was thinking it might be your own business.

Do you do your own tax return and how much detail do you have to provide? You could perhaps decide on a value and claim that - what's the worst that could happen?

I have an accountant that does my tax returns. I do have a limited company as well but it's business is unrelated to my profession.
For my company the accountant wants to see the bank statements but for my personal return (which includes rental income and professional income) he accepts whatever I declare. Obviously the responsibility is on me to be able to back up any claims should I be investigated....which touch wood hasn't happened as yet.

As you said I could just put a value on the ticket and hope for the best.
It's a business class flight which in cash would have cost about £3500. There is no way I would have paid that amount of cash and so I used 160000 pts and £400 cash instead.
I feel like my 160000 didn't come for free and so should have a value. However I also understand that hmrc don't give a toss about what I feel lol

Cheers

[MustangGT]

Your points did come for free, in that you did not pay for them, they were issued because you bought something else.

As such you have no value invested in them to claim back against tax.

[Mr Pointy]

MustangGT said:

Your points did come for free, in that you did not pay for them, they were issued because you bought something else.

As such you have no value invested in them to claim back against tax.

I'm wavering a bit here. If the points were earned as a result of personal spending on personal items then they have a value & that value was used to purchase tickets for a business purpose. Replace "points" with "pounds or "cashback" & I don't think you could object to using that cash to purchase a business flight & claiming the cost.

If the points were earned for a business purchase then presuambly you would be claiming for that business expense & you'd be double dipping if you claimed for use of the airmiles.

I'd say it's worth claiming whatever the equivalent purchase price of the airmiles is.

[Simpo Two]

AdeTuono said:

Simpo Two said:

Tim330 said:

If you purchased the airlines to pay for the flights then that should be OK.

A rather pricey way of doing it

I got it, even if Tim 330 didn't.

Remarkable how many people can't read isn't it! (or read what they post)