Self Assessment Help needed??

harryhound

Hi Trixxi,

You really need to explain the job your husband now does, before you can expect sensible replies.
As I understand it above, he used to be a self employed taxi driver, and as such would only qualify for tax allowable subsistence if his job meant he had to stay away over night. I think the taxman takes the attitude that ordinary mortals can take a flask and sandwiches for lunch, because we have to eat regardless of the job we have or don't have. .

The only obvious claim, that an employee (servant) can make against the tax, is things like cleaning a uniform or overalls, maintaining the tools of his trade, which can include his car; his employer (master) is meant to supply the big equipment that the employee needs to do the job. He also ought to pay expenses to his employee, when he sends the employee away overnight.
The tools and overalls business is usually only worth a claim that a hundred or so should be paid free of tax. - being able to claim 40p a mile, less whatever the company reimburses, for the first 10,000 miles, is the only valuable claim I can think of for someone in a servant and master relationship. (ie you claim 40p if the employer is not reimbursing anything and get back 8p from the tax; if the employer (master) is reimbursing 20 p a mile you claim 20p a mile and get back 4p).
Have a read of any of the threads on here where employees are asking for advice on expenses - some of them manage to claim tax back on 3 pounds a week for doing paperwork at home - a contribution towards heating, lighting and council tax.
Being an employee is not the same as being self employed, when it comes to claiming expenses against tax; as really the employer should reimburse the expenses and then claim the tax back because these expenses are reducing his profits.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/BIM37660.htm

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/senew/SE31240.htm