I think this is stupid

robgoingcrazy

In a recession, with businesses going to the wall - as a self employed person I have decided to be proactive and pay for myself to acquire some new skills so I can carry on being self employed as my current business model will probably go wrong fairly soon and I would like to contribute to society in some other way in the future.

Yet my accountant says I cannot claim a penny off tax as I am acquiring new skills and not developing old ones...

What a stupid rule - talk about not giving people incentives in this country.

That is all :rolleyes:

00ec25

as someone who has been on PAYE all their working life, I am soooo full of sympathy for the self employed who can avoid paying tax that I can't by claiming all their "costs"
That is all

Pennywise

00ec25 wrote: »

as someone who has been on PAYE all their working life, I am soooo full of sympathy for the self employed who can avoid paying tax that I can't by claiming all their "costs"
That is all

Don't believe the urban myths.

The S/E can only claim the extra costs they incur because they're self employed.

If they work in the same place all the time (like an employee), then they can't claim travel expenses to that place (like an employee).

As for the other costs, when you're S/E you pay things yourself for which an employee would have them provided by an employer, such as protective clothing, stationery, postage, training, etc.

What kind of expenses do you mean that a S/E person can claim against tax that an employee can't?

p00hsticks

Pennywise wrote: »

What kind of expenses do you mean that a S/E person can claim against tax that an employee can't?

Well, the OP seemed to feel that they should be able to claim the cost of putting themselves through training.....

Caroline73_2

p00hsticks wrote: »

Well, the OP seemed to feel that they should be able to claim the cost of putting themselves through training.....

but they can't claim so are no better off than an employed person.
Actually, I have had lots of training paid for by employers but I have to pay for my own now I am self employed.

00ec25

Pennywise wrote: »

What kind of expenses do you mean that a S/E person can claim against tax that an employee can't?

How's about this as a starter for 10
I routinely take work home at night and work most weekends and to do this comfortably and away from children I have an office at home which I have equipped at my own cost and have "lost" a bedroom in so doing, thereby seriously inconveniencing the rest of us.
I cannot claim any S/E allowances against this - such as those being discussed here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=420104 !:rolleyes:

Debt_Free_Chick

00ec25 wrote: »

How's about this as a starter for 10
I routinely take work home at night and work most weekends and to do this comfortably and away from children I have an office at home which I have equipped at my own cost and have "lost" a bedroom in so doing, thereby seriously inconveniencing the rest of us.
I cannot claim any S/E allowances against this - such as those being discussed here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=420104 !:rolleyes:

You cannot claim self-employed expenses if you are not SE.

If you are employed, you should be looking to your employer to reimburse you, if at all.

Presumably, though, you are "routinely taking work home" at your own choice?

After 30 years, I've now trained myself not to do this

Lavendyr

p00hsticks wrote: »

Well, the OP seemed to feel that they should be able to claim the cost of putting themselves through training.....

Which is a lot less than a lot of employees get for being put through training by their companies. :rolleyes:

bordercars

OP, why cant you diversify your current business to include the new services you wish to provide and of course need training for.

on the subject of the law being an !!!, i once ran a trampoline and bouncy castle business on the beach, registered as SE. On the very hot days all i wore was sandals shorts and loads of sun cream, was able to claim for the sandals and shorts but not the cream, i told the tax man its was like protective clothing, cover up he said have no flesh on show but you aint claiming for suntan lotion.

robgoingcrazy

bordercars wrote: »

OP, why cant you diversify your current business to include the new services you wish to provide and of course need training for.

That is what I want to do, I don't want to start a new business, just extend the range of consultancy I offer, although admittedly in a different area.

Maybe I should just sign on though, let the government stop worrying about me claiming for trying to keep my skills diverse and let the employed stop being jealous of my precarious unpredictable income. :rotfl:

Rolandtheroadie

As an employee of a large national company, I decided that I'd like to do a degree in civil engineering to help my job prospects.
Imagine my disgust when they refused to pay for it or assist me in any way, shape or form as it had nothing to do with my current role.
I then thought I'd try to get it paid for me elsewhere. Would you believe it! They say because I earn money myself, I'd have to pay for it out my own pocket.