Work related expenses and personal error

Savvy_Sue

My manager requests enough detail on the mileage claim to be able to check it, preferably a postcode. So if I claim 5 miles for going to the Post Office which is 1 mile away (and I can't walk it because we are carrying a large and heavy amount of small change) because I got lost, my claim will be rejected.

And before anyone asks, if I get a parking ticket, my company won't pay for that either, even if I couldn't move the car at the right time for some good reason.

ohreally

You'll likely find payroll use routing software and will offer payment for the route distance provided by that.

Horlock

My interpretation of all the info, and thanks very much for all the info by the way, is that it all depends on the employer.

The strange thing to me is that it probably shouldn't depend on the employer. Also no one has commented on what HMRC would make of it - not really a surprise as I asked on the emplyment forum rather than the tax forum.

Currently wondering how the good hearted people who insist that as a good employee they wouldn't consider charging the employer for their own mistakes, whether they would also be such good tax payers that they wouldn't allow the tax man to pay the bill - probably? In case anyone doesn't realise, you are allowed to deduct any unclaimed business expenses from your declared income - obviously this isn't as good as getting the cash from the employer as you only get to avoid paying tax on the money rather than having it refunded.

Still ultimately (from responses) it seems that it is purely down to a persons own conscience and an employers willingness to fit the bill.

Savvy_Sue

HMRC rarely drill down to the detail and will take what the employer presents as correct.

However, if they are taking a more detailed look than usual, and find that expenses reimbursed free of tax are not backed up by receipts and detailed records, life would be 'interesting' for the employer, with a tax bill sent to the employee.

burnoutbabe

I don;t think HMRC would have an issue for something like
Booked train tickets for wrong day/place and then had to rebook for next day/correct place.
As its done for (majority) business reasons and no personal benefit to the employee (as long as money spent and receipts had to prove it).

PossiblyOverworked

I would only claim for the proper amount (the length the journey 'should' be as per Google Maps or similar) if at all.

A significantly higher amount would have too much risk of them questioning it ("40 miles?? I know this is a 15 mile journey as I do the same trip myself to visit family..." etc) and then I'd have to explain that I put the wrong postcode into the sat nav or wasn't paying attention to what exit I should take or whatever... .which would put a bit of a doubt in your bosses' mind about whether you are likely to be "sloppy" about other things as well!

elsien

I had the wrong address in my satnav the other day caused by the person filling in the form with incorrect information so I claimed the extra miles as it was not my mistake.
Missing a junction on a motorway is generally down to me so I wouldn't claim. There is a box on our expenses form to give a reason for larger than usual amounts, so line manager can decline them if they see fit.

hcb42

I also only claim the shortest route - although we have expenses software that autocalculates the mileage anyway.