self-emplyment- allowable expenses and should i keep my business account?

veronica46_2

I am a sole trader and not currently trading very much as I have been ill and preoccupied with my part-time work.
I have been going through a horrible divorce and my mind has been full of other types of paperwork Plus i teach part-time which is also full of paperwork!

However, I need to prepare my accounts for 2007-8.
How do I show usage of a phone which is used for both business and non-business? It is not itemised as it is a payasyougo T- mobile account.
Also I was a bit daft and mislaid lots of my home phone bills which is a combined broadband, phone tv package.
I have details of the standing order which is always a set amount for broadband and tv + calls are listed but not itemised.
Also:
In view of my lack of activity I am thinking it is no longer viable to pay for a business bank account for the moment- I am thinking of closing it down.
I do wish to stay self employed just for the moment as i am hoping to get things moving eventually.Is it ok to just use your personal acccount ? Can i use my existing personal account or open one just for business use?
:j

hopon

Open a seperate personal account, it's one of the perks of being self employed instead of ltd that you can get free banking it's very rare that the banks notice or complain about it.

I would claim for all of the telephone then do an add back for a fair % for private useage, have a look at the bills you have got and pick out an average work/private split. If it's consistent then HMRC wouldn't normally disagree.