meal allowances

antrobus

bbarroso wrote: »

...Agrinnall, what do you mean 'it seems pretty clear'? Do you have some references on this matter? Thanks

You could try the Income Tax (Approved Expenses) Regulations 2015 which are now in effect in relation to payments made in the tax year 2016-17.

http://taxnews.lexisnexis.co.uk/TaxNewsLive/Members/BreakingNewsFullText.aspx?id=6232&css=1&xml=0

(That's right, those b****** at HMRC have changed the rules.)

This is how employers are apparently supposed to apply these new benchmark subsistence rates.

http://www.emtax.co.uk/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-end-of-p11d-dispensations

Under 'qualifying conditions' it states (inter alia) that "the employee should have incurred a cost on a meal (food and drink) after starting the journey"; i.e. basically what it says in post #8 above.

Your employer is free to pay you whatever meal allowance it likes, but it has to apply PAYE to that payment unless its qualifies under these new regulations.

lush_walrus

If you are making food at home then you are seen as unaffected by working away and are not incurring additional expenses in terms of tax. It is not an allowable expense.

But surely the question is really for you employer, as good will to thank tou for flexibility they may decide to allow you that expense regardless of HMRCs position on it. We do that for our staff, we provide x per day added to their wage regardless of how they spend it.

If you really want to claim the money and your company will not allow it then why not just ask the restaurant which meals contain x. Or find a chain that you can get to know the ingredients list.

Pennywise

Sounds more like the conversation you should be having is with your employer to pay you a higher rate to allow for eating in specific restaurants which cater for your food intolerances. If these are diagnosed by your GP, then your employer has to make "reasonable allowances" as a disability, which in your case could mean a higher allowance.

trailingspouse

How are you losing anything? If you go in to a restaurant and spend £12 on a meal, and get £12 back from your employer, you are back in the position you started from. If you bring food from home you would be eating that food anyway, so you're not spending any more than you would if you were eating at home, so again there is no loss.

If you are talking about popping in to a supermarket while you are out and about, and buying 'food to go', have you tried presenting this receipt to your employer? Personally I see no reason why they wouldn't honour it - it's likely to be less than a restaurant meal anyway, and as the address of the supermarket will be on the receipt they will be able to see that you incurred it after starting the journey.

TheCyclingProgrammer

Yes this is a question for your employer. Buying food from a supermarket while on business is no different from buying it from a restaurant, tax-wise. I see no reason why your employer would have a problem with this.

martinsurrey

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

Yes this is a question for your employer. Buying food from a supermarket while on business is no different from buying it from a restaurant, tax-wise. I see no reason why your employer would have a problem with this.

This is the way forward,

In fact I'm sure your employer will like it, Tesco is much cheaper than Pizza Express!

The key point is that you need to spend the money AFTER leaving for the trip, if you don't its not tax deductible.

gingercordial

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

Yes this is a question for your employer. Buying food from a supermarket while on business is no different from buying it from a restaurant, tax-wise. I see no reason why your employer would have a problem with this.

Indeed, I really can't see why your employer wouldn't reimburse you for this.

When I am travelling for work, sometimes I eat in a cafe or restaurant but equally sometimes I just buy a sandwich/meal deal from a supermarket/train station shop and that is fine too.

The options generally are:

1. Eat in a restaurant, claim it back - fine.

2. Go to a supermarket/other shop during your travels, buy a sandwich, claim it back - also fine.

3. Get food during your normal grocery shop at home, make food to take with you - this cannot be claimed back as it is not money spent whilst travelling for work.

So do number 2.