Car travel expenses to post office

tweester

There is a village with a post office where I post my business packets from. After I've done that I can either carry on driving round a loop to get back home or turn the car around at the post office and come back the same way I got there. The difference is something like 0.2 miles so the loop route is slightly longer but it is rather convenient not to have the hassle of turning the car on a small road. Is it acceptable for me to claim these extra 0.2 miles as an expense? Thanks.

Mistral001

I would be very careful. Tax collectors are always looking for potential major tax fraud like this.

theesel1994

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it unless you are making several journeys a day - every day the Post Office is open.
If it's just once a day...
52 weeks x 6 days x 0.2 miles x £0.45 = £30.24
Tax and National Insurance on this £30.24 x 29% = £8.77.

Just put in the miles you actually drive.

McKneff

I cant believe the boards are getting clogged up with inane rubbish like this.
I cant believe that its a hassle to do a three point turn.

Get a grip !!!!!!.

tweester

Please be patient and bear in mind that there are all sorts of people driving on the roads who might have a medical reason to drive as they do e.g. slow right down over the bumps. For all you know this could be a question from a heavily pregnant woman without power steering. No need to swear or is that the way to earn 'thanks' points here?

steve1980

tweester wrote: »

Please be patient and bear in mind that there are all sorts of people driving on the roads who might have a medical reason to drive as they do e.g. slow right down over the bumps. For all you know this could be a question from a heavily pregnant woman without power steering. No need to swear or is that the way to earn 'thanks' points here?

No, the way to earn thanks on here is to post sensible questions and answers, not moaning about having to make a 3 point turn and trying to claim back 0.2 miles when going to the post office.

nomoneytoday

0.2 mile is 8 to 9pence, that would be swallowed up as deminimus IMHO

heathcote123

tweester wrote: »

There is a village with a post office where I post my business packets from. After I've done that I can either carry on driving round a loop to get back home or turn the car around at the post office and come back the same way I got there. The difference is something like 0.2 miles so the loop route is slightly longer but it is rather convenient not to have the hassle of turning the car on a small road. Is it acceptable for me to claim these extra 0.2 miles as an expense? Thanks.

No, the taxman has laser trackers and tape measures. So much as 1 mm over and it's prison for you.

pitkin2020

heathcote123 wrote: »

No, the taxman has laser trackers and tape measures. So much as 1 mm over and it's prison for you.

OMG melodramatic much. As long as you can prove the mileage you have no issue. The issue arises where you claim for 10k a year but your car has only done 7k a year between MOTS, thats how you'll end up the creek without a paddle.

The taxman does not expect or even make you to take the shortest possible route and a difference of 0.2 mile is negligible. As long as you can justify your journey it really is no issue.

Jeez I drive more than 0.2 miles looking for a parking space at my post office lol, do you seriously think I wouldn't claim that extra mileage that is only added because of my business just because google states its 0.2 miles less.

BryanSmallBiz

I reckon there are at least a thousand honest people like you to every would-be fraudster. The thing is that all the rules, and palaver about the rules, are connected with the fraudsters who try to bend or break them rather than stay within them.
You are entirely entitled to claim the entire round trip as you describe it as an expense.

raineshoe

Swings and roundabouts. I wouldn't bother about 0.2 miles. There will be times when you under claim slightly and times when you over claim slightly no doubt. A bit of common sense and not being greedy with your claims and you will be okay ;-)