Self Employed -Tax Claim for food Subsistence

[Ricky26wales]

Hi guys just a question for anyone thats self employed. When filling out your tax returns can you get away with claiming for food as food subsistence??

 

I've tried googling it but people seem as confused as I am. I spend a fair amount of money on food for work. What do you other guys do? Obviously money spent on work clothing/equiptment and fuel bills for my car to get to work can be claimed for, just wanna find out about food too. Also i'm working as self employed with the CIS construction scheme but I do have a boss if that makes sense? Thanks for any help on this. I've got alot of paper work to do and wanna get it out the way. Cheers

[Rupe]

No chance, its not a business expense, you would still need food if you were employed or un-employed for that matter so its not specific to you being self employed.

 

The only way it work would be if you stayed away from home, then you could claim evening meals only I believe (and there would be a limit) thats why its called subsistence, its subsidising your already present need for food, which you cant maintain because you are away from home.

[arbogrunt]

My accountant gets me a fiver a day for breakfast as I start work at an 'unreasonable hour'. I don't know why, as I get up earlier to have a good breakfast!

[Rupe]

After waht I said, you could of course just put down 50% of you rfood bills against tax if you wanted and just wait for an inquest. If you never get one then its fine and if you do you will have to justify everything and probably fail at justifying much more than the food.

 

If you have an accountant that will put down £5 a day (or any amount) then thats fine and he would have to do the justifying for you, if he wins you pay his time for winning, if he loses he would have to pay your extra tax, so they are only going to do it they feel confident.

[kernowstu]

No chance, its not a business expense, you would still need food if you were employed or un-employed for that matter so its not specific to you being self employed.

 

The only way it work would be if you stayed away from home, then you could claim evening meals only I believe (and there would be a limit) thats why its called subsistence, its subsidising your already present need for food, which you cant maintain because you are away from home.

 

IMO rupe is 100 % right with the above

[Rupe]

Same goes with clothing except ppe, as we all need clothing, but I bend that one us much as possible, dependign on where I buy the stuff. In town no way (dont know where town shops are anyway) but if its from cotswold, or midland farmers of from any of the arb suppliers then it must be for work, but technically a stein/stihl/sherril waterproof is not tax deductable, unless you buy it for employees.

 

If you are self employed or employed and required to work in the wet its up to you to buy clothes suitable. I doubt many of us stick to that one!

[kernowstu]

you can claim a amount for suits/posh clothes as self employed for meetings etc

[Rupe]

An amount yes, i.e. a percentage but not the whole lot, and not for us guys either. You would have to be self employed in somethign a bit more important.

 

Anyone working an office as an employee would not be able to get expenses/or tax deductions for suits, they are just clothes after all. PPE is equipment, not clothing.

[kernowstu]

An amount yes, i.e. a percentage but not the whole lot, and not for us guys either. You would have to be self employed in somethign a bit more important. Anyone working an office as an employee would not be able to get expenses/or tax deductions for suits, they are just clothes after all. PPE is equipment, not clothing.

[Ricky26wales]

Thanks for the replies. Seems your a pretty straight guy then Rupe when it comes to your taxes. I know some people that put all sorts through and get away with it. The amount of tax I pay i'd like to see some of it back. Obviously we all would. Seems to me that if you chance it and put it through then you could well see the pay out at the end. I came on here to ask as the lads I work with put literally anything they think they can get away with. Including washing machines, vans, clothes likes t-shirts,hoodies and (some) food, like anything that's taken to work etc. My boss whos run his business for 30+ years says put a few extras through but don't do it so much so that you stick out like a sore thumb to the tax man. Obviosuly some people won't wan't to give too much away. Quite a tricky subject. I don't have an accountant so it's all done by lucky me. And this is my first year as self employed. Thanks again for the replies.