What can I claim against tax?

MrFrisk

Hi all, hope someone may be able to help with this query.

HMRC have asked me to fill out a tax return for the first time in a few years as I did some freelance work in the last tax year.

Basically I work in horse racing, and get most of my salary paid on a standard PAYE basis as well as some expenses - travel, accomodation etc. But my employer refuses to pay for a daily copy of the Racing Post, even though it's essential for my work, on the basis that they don't pay for any daily papers, regardless of whether they are specialised or not.

My question is: should I be able to put this again the tax owing on my freelance work (which is also racing-related?). And as I mainly work from home, can I also put in something for office/equipment etc? A daily copy of the Racing Post may not sound like much, but at nearly £2 a go, it soon adds up, and would probably cover most or all of the tax I would owe on the freelance work.

All advice very gratefully received.

fengirl_2

Yes, you can include the cost of the Racing Post in your freelance accounts, along with a proportion of the running costs of your home. The proportion is normally worked out according to the number of rooms you use for business over the total rooms in your house. You need to include any stationery, stamps, etc. You can only claim capital allowances on equipment. A trip to your tax enquiry office will help you sort out these small queries.

MrFrisk

Many thanks. I would have gone to my local tax office but it appears to be in Edinburgh, and I'm on the south coast. Or is that something different?

BoGoF

Are you buying the Racing Post for your employed work or freelance work is the question. If solely for the employed then no - well known tax case went to the High Court and Inland Revenue won their case that this was not an allowable expenses for employed journalists. If the answer is either both or for your freelance then yes it would be allowable

MrFrisk

I couldn't do either without it, so I guess I'm okay. I find it bizarre that it might not be allowable. Does that mean that a City reporter can't claim for the Financial Times?

fengirl_2

You can go into your local tax office for general help with capital allowances, etc. As you use the Racing Post for freelance work, then you need to include it in your freelance statement.

Danniboi_2

MrFrisk wrote: »

Hi all, hope someone may be able to help with this query.

HMRC have asked me to fill out a tax return for the first time in a few years as I did some freelance work in the last tax year.

Basically I work in horse racing, and get most of my salary paid on a standard PAYE basis as well as some expenses - travel, accomodation etc. But my employer refuses to pay for a daily copy of the Racing Post, even though it's essential for my work, on the basis that they don't pay for any daily papers, regardless of whether they are specialised or not.

My question is: should I be able to put this again the tax owing on my freelance work (which is also racing-related?). And as I mainly work from home, can I also put in something for office/equipment etc? A daily copy of the Racing Post may not sound like much, but at nearly £2 a go, it soon adds up, and would probably cover most or all of the tax I would owe on the freelance work.

All advice very gratefully received.

Hi here is a list of some things you can claim for

Mobile phone use
travel, fuel expense
R&D Reseach and development. if you had to reseach a place for a horse to stay then that counts. read the hmrc website on R&D to clarify.

lodgeings
as you work from home you can claim tax back if you have had to use your home power,fuel bill,or had to buy printer ink for your pc, or even a new pc, printer paper, etc etc

They dont always ask for the receipts I had to do mine I just showed them my bank statement and I itemised my usage bills.

my tax bill was £2.550.00 and I hd to pay £0 in the end

also make sure you have reached the threshold for self employment tiers

If you make less than £6k £12k or £15 you can fall into a catergory that will reduce your bill.

please go to the hmrc website to verify these things as I have not been self employed since late 06 so things may have latered a little

hope thsi helps

regards
dan

mrkbrrws

Danniboi wrote: »

Hi here is a list of some things you can claim for

Mobile phone use
travel, fuel expense
R&D Reseach and development. if you had to reseach a place for a horse to stay then that counts. read the hmrc website on R&D to clarify. Huh?!

lodgeings
as you work from home you can claim tax back if you have had to use your home power,fuel bill,or had to buy printer ink for your pc, or even a new pc, printer paper, etc etc

They dont always ask for the receipts I had to do mine I just showed them my bank statement and I itemised my usage bills.

my tax bill was £2.550.00 and I hd to pay £0 in the end Errr??

also make sure you have reached the threshold for self employment tiers

If you make less than £6k £12k or £15 you can fall into a catergory that will reduce your bill. What?!

please go to the hmrc website to verify these things as I have not been self employed since late 06 so things may have latered a little

hope thsi helps

regards
dan

With respect, I'm not sure that much of this is relevant, or even makes sense.