Home Based Working Benefits/Gov't

JamesJ1983

Dear All

wondering if anyone can help - I work for a charity, and as many people who work in the not-for-profit/Charity sector I work from home.

I know that there is a current government policy of flat tax refunding of about £2 p/w for people who HAVE TO be (as part of their job/rather than those who opt to be) homebased workers, for which I havent claimed in my two years of working in my current job, I also know that there is another option of working out the costs associated with domestic utility bills such as gas/electricity etc for the rooms that you use as part of your working environment.

I work for a charity they are my employer, and I undertake no other business in my home.

At the moment I live in a 3-bed flat, as part of my working environment - I use my bedroom as an office, the living room as a visitor reception (rare/infrequent) the kitchen to provide (rare/infrequent) refreshment and the bathroom as guest services (rare/infrequent). There is also the hall way which i dont know if it is or isnt but i'll count it in for these purposes. On this basis i am using 5/7 rooms of my house at some point.

Now I pay Gas and Electricity of £40/45 pcm + Water rates

I get NO ALLOWANCES from work towards the running/up keep of my property that they require I have and use, and no inkind benefits: i.e. No personal Use of Phone or Internet theyve installed

What I would like to know is, has anyone gone through this process before of claiming back more than the allowance as guidance provided by HMRC is shabby in this area at best.


thanks inadvance guys!

J

dmg24

JamesJ1983 wrote: »

At the moment I live in a 3-bed flat, as part of my working environment - I use my bedroom as an office, the living room as a visitor reception (rare/infrequent) the kitchen to provide (rare/infrequent) refreshment and the bathroom as guest services (rare/infrequent). There is also the hall way which i dont know if it is or isnt but i'll count it in for these purposes. On this basis i am using 5/7 rooms of my house at some point.

HMRC guidance is very clear and certainly not shabby. You can claim relief on the additional unit costs of utilities consumed while a room is being used for work - which clearly will not be anywhere near 5/7 of your bill.

Sixer

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/BIM47825.htm

AzimScot

I hear that if you work from home both business and pleasure mixed then they pay for both. You need to prove everything bank receipts, invoices etc.

AnxiousMum

Sixer wrote: »

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/BIM47825.htm

All of the examples used in the above link relate to self employed people, or people running a business.

I thought that the maximum allowable was £3 per week if your employer required you to have a home based office. I have worked from home for almost six years, and haven't claimed as yet I know that claim can be backdated for 6 or 7 years though.

[Deleted User]

have you informed your insurers and if you have one mortgage company that you are using the property to work permanentlt from home in?
If you have "business"visitors there are certainly insurance implications