Claiming business mileage expenses

lisyloo

My brain is foggy and I can't work this one out so would appreciate some help.

If I travel to a customer site in my own private car (yes I'm insured), then do I claim.

a) The direct travel (in this case 27 miles each way).
b) The additional amount over my normal commute (in this case 13 miles each way)
or
c) The lower amount of office -> customer site (in this case 20 miles each way).

The logical/moral answer is b) but I have a feeling the IR answer is c).

Can anyone authoritatively confirm.
It's a small amount but I'd like to know the answer for future refernce.

Thanks in advance for any help.

jennifernil

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/nimmanual/nim06340.htm

possibly a clue here

depends on the actual journey and what you did. or didn't do.

jennifernil

when my OH was working, if he went direct to client he claimed the full distance, same coming back if he came straight home. If he was also in the office at all, he could not claim the home to/from office bit.

What do your employers pay for?

lisyloo

Just managed to find the policy

[FONT=&quot]"The mileage should be calculated from the employee's home to client premises less a deduction for the employee's normal cost of home to office travel.[/FONT] "

I have to say this still isn't crystal clear for me. When I travel to the office I usually get a lift with my OH in his car. I WFH 4 days a week.
I'm not trying to make things up to make money ! (it's small fry) I just want to know what I'm meant to do.

jennifernil

The HMRC thing seems to indicate they accept that if you don't visit the office at all then you can have the whole journey as expenses.

I presume the "policy" you referred to is employers policy?

Some employers have a policy of not paying employees anything at all for using their own car, so I am not so sure that the employers policy is relevant to what you can claim for tax relief!

lisyloo

I presume the "policy" you referred to is employers policy?

Correct.

so I am not so sure that the employers policy is relevant to what you can claim for tax relief!

If my claim under my employers policy is less that the approved amoount under the IR rules then I can claim tax relief. That appears to be the case here.

jennifernil

I would agree. As long as you keep a note of actual miles travelled, and who and where you went to, should HMRC ask, I see no problem.

Only once in 30+ years was OH asked to submit proof, which he did in so much detail that he never heard a peep from HMRC again!