Self Employed, Claiming Milage Allowance - No Fuel Receipts?

PH1LL

Hello,

I am self employed and work mobile.

For a period of last year I was using my partners car for work, I did quite a lot of miles - about 5k miles but at the time was unaware that i should be keeping fuel receipts.

Will this be a problem for when i come to do my tax return and claim the 40p per mile??

Thanks

CKhalvashi

As long as the mileage isn't unrealistic without proof, you're generally ok.

I've been audited twice for tax return purposes due to having covered 100k+ miles in the years in question for business. 5k should be fine!

CK

PH1LL

CKhalvashi wrote: »

As long as the mileage isn't unrealistic without proof, you're generally ok.

I've been audited twice for tax return purposes due to having covered 100k+ miles in the years in question for business. 5k should be fine!

CK

Thank you for your reply.

The other issue is that my partner no longer owns the car, however from owning it to selling it the total milage covered was around 18k. Im not sure how i would go about prooving this though?

Pennywise

PH1LL wrote: »

The other issue is that my partner no longer owns the car, however from owning it to selling it the total milage covered was around 18k. Im not sure how i would go about prooving this though?

The purchase and part ex invoices will show mileage at start and end of ownership. MOT and service bills will also show mileage.

The tax inspector is more concerned with proof that you've travelled the miles you say you have on business purposes. Proof of car mileage isn't proof, nor are petrol receipts - they only prove total mileage driven, private & business.

As long as you have robust business mileage records/logs showing the date, mileage, destination and reason/justification for each journey, you'll be fine.

PlutoinCapricorn

If your income was under £60k, you just put your total expense amount into the tax return: there is no need to itemise. With any luck, that will be the end of it.

If HMRC did decide to investigate, not having receipts is not the end of the world if there is other evidence that you travelled a lot and the amount is reasonable.

CKhalvashi

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

If your income was under £60k, you just put your total expense amount into the tax return: there is no need to itemise. With any luck, that will be the end of it.

If HMRC did decide to investigate, not having receipts is not the end of the world if there is other evidence that you travelled a lot and the amount is reasonable.

The 1st part of that is something that's not relevant to me, hence I completely forgot it!

The 2nd part is very true. As long as everything adds up and is reasonable then there shouldn't be a problem.

I'm in the lovely position where I'm having to keep all my P&D tickets etc in filed order to work out what I've spent on parking to prove mileage.

It's a pain in the backside!

PH1LL

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

If your income was under £60k, you just put your total expense amount into the tax return: there is no need to itemise. With any luck, that will be the end of it.

If HMRC did decide to investigate, not having receipts is not the end of the world if there is other evidence that you travelled a lot and the amount is reasonable.

Why under 60k? Is there a threshold where the taxman is likely to look in to things?

Also I sold the car privately with no records of milage etc, i think i had it serviced at some point but unsure.

But i can provide very detailed milage logs and a diary showing what appointments i had and where at.

PlutoinCapricorn

HMRC set an income threshold over which they require itemised figures. It is increased from time to time, and has reached £60k. Perhaps one of the HMRC people on MSE will reveal whether or not the figures for people over the threshold are scrutinised very carefully.

Even if you do need to give an expenses breakdown, the lack of receipts need not cause a problem, provided that your records are in good order and there is other evidence.

Sallysu

PH1LL wrote: »

Hello,

I am self employed and work mobile.

For a period of last year I was using my partners car for work, I did quite a lot of miles - about 5k miles but at the time was unaware that i should be keeping fuel receipts.

Will this be a problem for when i come to do my tax return and claim the 40p per mile??

Thanks

45p per mile from 2011/12 for first 10,000 miles and 25p per mile thereafter.

mishelly

It may not be a problem if you have other proof of the journeys. For example receipts from suppliers for goods you have purchased in said location. Obviously you had to get there and back.