Inclusion of expenses prior to 1st year of self assessment

Antrichan202

In first year of business I spent money setting up before 5th April but did not trade (get income) until after 5th April so my first self assessment covers year after 5th April. Can I include outgoings spent (invoiced) before 5th April as legitimate expenses and if so, how best to do it? Could I include it as a loss carried forward?

Jeremy535897

See https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/business-income-manual/bim46351

DullGreyGuy

Antrichan202 said:

In first year of business I spent money setting up before 5th April but did not trade (get income) until after 5th April so my first self assessment covers year after 5th April. Can I include outgoings spent (invoiced) before 5th April as legitimate expenses and if so, how best to do it? Could I include it as a loss carried forward?

Did you form a limited company or are you a sole trader?
If a sole trader are you using cash accounting or accruals? 
Did you have other income during that tax year?
Do you mean "get income" or "generate income"? Ie did you do work but just didnt get paid for it by the time of year end?
You say "spent (invoiced)"... which is it? Spent or only invoiced but not spent?

If a Limited company, did it fund the purchases itself or did you buy them and intend to give them to the company as directors loan?