Missed some expenses

w00519772

I left my previous employer in December 2009. Between 2010 and 2012 I did some contracting work (earning about £100 per year). Therefore I employed an accountant and submitted a tax return for those years.

I did not include the following expenses:

1) Website: I had my own website describing my skills.
2) Professional Body Membership (British Computer Society)

I have paid about £280 per year for the website and about £150 for professional membership.

Can I do anything about this? I believe I paid too much tax on that basis. I do not think I claimed any expenses at all.

agrinnall

Is £100 a year a typo? It would be throwing money away to employ an accountant on such a low level of earnings.

I believe you can go back 4 years to amend your return so if you get on to it quickly you should be able to change 2010/11, and then you'll have more time to do the later year(s).

Darksparkle

agrinnall wrote: »

Is £100 a year a typo? It would be throwing money away to employ an accountant on such a low level of earnings.

I believe you can go back 4 years to amend your return so if you get on to it quickly you should be able to change 2010/11, and then you'll have more time to do the later year(s).

Earliest year is 2011/12. This must be done before 5th April 2016.

sheramber

Darksparkle wrote: »

Earliest year is 2011/12. This must be done before 5th April 2016.[/QUOTE

British Computing Society)

If that is the correct name for the society it is not on the list of registered professional bodies.

You can check here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/professional-bodies-approved-for-tax-relief-list-3

Xeorix

sheramber wrote: »

Darksparkle wrote: »

Earliest year is 2011/12. This must be done before 5th April 2016.[/QUOTE

British Computing Society)

If that is the correct name for the society it is not on the list of registered professional bodies.

You can check here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/professional-bodies-approved-for-tax-relief-list-3

British Computer Society

It's on the list

w00519772

I have a friend who did the accounts in previous year. He said it may be better to offset BCS membership against my salary. Are you allowed to do that?

It does not state in my Contract of Employment that you have to be a member of any professional body.

sheramber

Xeorix wrote: »

sheramber wrote: »

British Computer Society

It's on the list

But that is not what the OP stated . Hence I asked if he had given the correct name.

w00519772

sheramber wrote: »

Xeorix wrote: »

But that is not what the OP stated . Hence I asked if he had given the correct name.

I don't think it really matters. Computing is an alias of Computer i.e. I am reading their magazine where they have referred to themselves as the British Computing Society a few times.

w00519772

I have come across the following webpage: http://www.bcs.org/category/10494

It tells me that I may be entitled to claim a tax refund on the membership fees. I have to write to the local tax office. I live in Lincoln. I have come across this link: https://www.mylocalservices.co.uk/Lincolnshire/HMRC/930111/Lincoln_Tax_Office_HMRC_Lincoln_Inland_Revenue.html. However, it says: "Please do not write to or visit this office". What is the address I should write to? I am reluctant to call as it is an 08 number and there are usually long waiting times, particularly at this time of the year.

Darksparkle

w00519772 wrote: »

I have come across the following webpage: http://www.bcs.org/category/10494

It tells me that I may be entitled to claim a tax refund on the membership fees. I have to write to the local tax office. I live in Lincoln. I have come across this link: https://www.mylocalservices.co.uk/Lincolnshire/HMRC/930111/Lincoln_Tax_Office_HMRC_Lincoln_Inland_Revenue.html. However, it says: "Please do not write to or visit this office". What is the address I should write to? I am reluctant to call as it is an 08 number and there are usually long waiting times, particularly at this time of the year.

HMRC don't have "local tax offices" as such. It's a national system.

How to claim is here - https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/how-to-claim

HMRC also now use 03 numbers.

w00519772

I have discovered that I was entitled to free BCS subscription between 2010 and 2012 as my employer paid for their corporate service. Therefore I believe I could of saved around £360 as the average subscription was: £120 per year.

Is it worth writing to BCS to see if they are willing to refund any of the subscription for those years as a gesture of goodwill or do you think this is a waste of time?