Can I use an invoice / receipt for my tax returns that has someone else's name on it but not mine

OrlandoBoom

Hi,
Asking this again, have hopefully clarified situation better :- I have had some work done on my rental property by an electrician. He had asked me to pay him his daily rate, which I have done, then pay the wholesaler direct for materials. He sent me 2 invoices, his daily rate has it being from him and to me (my name is on it), so no problem.

However, the invoice from the wholesaler has it addressed to the electrician, no sign of my name anywhere on it. When I queried this, I was told the receipt would have my details on. That has arrived and it does not have my name anywhere on it, only the electricians name. When I have queried it, electrician said to contact wholesaler to sort it out. Wholesaler has said materials were ordered on electricians account, so could only be invoiced to him from them

Electrician has said that what I have is sufficient to put through my books, and that he has done it for loads and no one has queried it before (I'm guessing he's referring to regular customers, not people needing to put receipt through books). I don't believe I can use it, he assures me that I can. Who is right here ? The electrician saying I can use an invoice / receipt that does not have my name or address on it (neither mine or the property the work was done at) or me saying I can not use it without any reference to me on it ?

tacpot12

If you have the original invoice, and something in writing from the Electrician to confirm that the items from the wholesaler belong to you, then you can use this. Your Bank account will also reflect the payment to the Whoelsaler, so everything will tie up if HMRC ever investigate your rental business.

Phoenix72

Were the answers on your original thread not clear enough?

OrlandoBoom

Phoenix72 said:

Were the answers on your original thread not clear enough?

No, they weren't, but probably down to me not giving all the details about what it was for and why I needed the invoice / receipt. Hope this is clear enough now

OrlandoBoom

tacpot12 said:

If you have the original invoice, and something in writing from the Electrician to confirm that the items from the wholesaler belong to you, then you can use this. Your Bank account will also reflect the payment to the Whoelsaler, so everything will tie up if HMRC ever investigate your rental business.

No, I have nothing in writing from the Electrician to confirm the items belong to me, and he is saying he doesn't need to. I only have the invoice and receipt from the wholesale, which he just forwarded via email. Is the email coming from him sufficient ? Even though he has just forwarded it on from the wholesaler ?

silvercar

I would have thought the receipt, matched with evidence that you have paid it, would be sufficient. Added evidence is that you also have the tradesman's invoice and matching payment.

MWT

OrlandoBoom said:

However, the invoice from the wholesaler has it addressed to the electrician, no sign of my name anywhere on it.

Talk to your accountant, but paying an invoice direct to the supplier that is not in your name is a mistake.

I use a plumber who will ask for the cost of materials to be paid in advance, but he will always include that amount on his invoice, and the money is paid directly to him, not his supplier, which is the correct way to do it.

Jemma01

This is odd. I bet he'd add this to his expenses to get VAT returns on it, despite not paying. I wouldn't pay the invoice. I'd ask him to pay it and issue his own invoice to me. If HMRC investigates they'll question this.

General_Grant

Jemma01 said:

This is odd. I bet he'd add this to his expenses to get VAT returns on it, despite not paying. I wouldn't pay the invoice. I'd ask him to pay it and issue his own invoice to me. If HMRC investigates they'll question this.

Another thought - he may be avoiding registration for VAT and therefore wants his turnover not to include charging customers for the supplies.  The OP will know whether the tradesman's invoice included VAT and a registration number.