Personal Loan for business purposes

ZootHornRollo

Hi,

I am currently full time employed and pay tax via PAYE - i earn less than £30k - but this year i have started my own business which i am running part time for now. So far the income from the business has been very low.

I took out a personal loan of £7k to buy equipment which is being re-payed at £230 per month.

I have one bank account set up and do all business transactions through the account.

My main confusion is how to deal with the personal loan and equipment purchases. If i declare the business equipment purchases and loan repayments am i effectively declaring the same costs twice?

How is this best put through on a self assessment tax form?

PAYE income <£30k
Self employment expenses £500 (not including initial equipment purchase or loan repayments)
Self Employment income £350
Personal Loan £7k
Equipment Purchases £7k
Loan repayments £230 p/month

I anticipate that the business income will pick up from spring on wards (seasonal trade at outdoor events) but for now i have been transferring money from my personal account to cover the loan repayments.

Any advice gratefully received

antrobus

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

....

My main confusion is how to deal with the personal loan and equipment purchases. If i declare the business equipment purchases and loan repayments am i effectively declaring the same costs twice?

.

Yes, you are.

The loan repayments are not an allowable expense for tax purposes. You can however, claim the interest paid on the loan as a business expense.

ZootHornRollo

thanks,

so i should put the equipment purchases in as expenses and treat the personal loan as just that - a personal loan payed by me, not the business - declaring only the interest?

antrobus

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

thanks,

so i should put the equipment purchases in as expenses...

The equipment purchases don't qualify as "expenses"; they qualify for capital allowances - there will be a different box on the SA return that asks about spending on equipment.

ZootHornRollo wrote: »

... and treat the personal loan as just that - a personal loan payed by me, not the business - declaring only the interest?

Essentially, yes. The interest paid qualifies as an expense.