COVID work telephone @ home

Juliette100

I am hoping someone can help me.  My current role is office based but over the next 6 months needs to be at home due to covid and various business requirements.  I am fine with this but my manager informed me the other day that the business would like to install a work landline in my house just for work and whilst I am fine with this I started thinking about this and wondered if this causes any tax issues.  I work around the house using my laptop and mobile and have not separated home/work areas but with the landline installed does that cause me issues down the line.  Will the tax man determine that with a fixed line even if the phone is in the hallway that this ebbs me towards capital gains when I come to sell my property as this is not what I want and I will reject this phone being fixed if this is in question.  

Grumpy_chap

No.  Nothing to worry about as far as I am aware.  I have home line plus work line installed and my Accountant said that was fine.

Jeremy535897

The main residence relief for capital gains tax is only affected if there is a part of the property that is exclusively used for business, such as an office with no other purpose. In practice it is most unlikely to happen, as it is very easy to avoid. Having a second landline would have no bearing on the matter.

Juliette100

Grumpy_chap and Jeremy535897 thank you. This appears to be a subject I’ve no need worrying about.  Thank you both!!!

gettingtheresometime

Rather than get a landline installed why not suggest getting a virtual landline ? 

We've got an internet based number which works off an app so theoretically so long as there's an internet signal you can answer / make calls & customers don't know the difference (you can geographical numbers) 

May even be cheaper & quicker to organise.

i can point you to the company we use but don't want to breach any advertising rules 

unholyangel

Make sure your employer prohibits private use of the line. Otherwise there may be benefit in kind implications. I expect your employer should have already covered it but just mentioning it so you can double check.

ToxicWomble

gettingtheresometime said:

Rather than get a landline installed why not suggest getting a virtual landline ? 

We've got an internet based number which works off an app so theoretically so long as there's an internet signal you can answer / make calls & customers don't know the difference (you can geographical numbers) 

May even be cheaper & quicker to organise.

i can point you to the company we use but don't want to breach any advertising rules 

We use something very similar - people ring my work extension and it comes through to my mobile - very handy

Grumpy_chap

unholyangel said:

Make sure your employer prohibits private use of the line. Otherwise there may be benefit in kind implications. I expect your employer should have already covered it but just mentioning it so you can double check.

I actually keep my BT (Post Office) line as the private line and wifi.  The Virgin line is for work only, telephone line plus and wifi.  That approach absolutely keeps clarity that there is not private use and BIK liabilty.

unholyangel

Grumpy_chap said:

unholyangel said:

Make sure your employer prohibits private use of the line. Otherwise there may be benefit in kind implications. I expect your employer should have already covered it but just mentioning it so you can double check.

I actually keep my BT (Post Office) line as the private line and wifi.  The Virgin line is for work only, telephone line plus and wifi.  That approach absolutely keeps clarity that there is not private use and BIK liabilty.

Well yes, the important thing is the employer has procedures in place where they can demonstrate that they're controlling private use. One of the ways you would do that would be to make clear to the employee (via their contract) that the phone isn't to be used for private purposes or setting the rate at which private use will be reimbursed. 

Juliette100

Thank you everyone this is superb helpful.  I wasn’t prepared for my employer making this request and was concerned that this would be an issue tax wise.  I’ll make sure the usage is clarified but I will literally have two land lines at home. 🙈. One for work and one for my own personal use.  My personal line has been in place here for 40 years.   To be honest I’m happy working with my mobile but the landline thing hasn’t just come up to help. It did cause me to worry but the above info is reassuring. 

Grumpy_chap

Do you have your own house?
If renting, you may need landlord permission, but it should not be unreasonably withheld.