Home worker entitlement

sultan123

In my contract it says my normal place of work is my home.

The company do have an office in London which I am expected to go to once a month most likely.

They say they will pay for my  travel and accomodation if I come down to their offifce. This was confirmed by email. However they would not share expenses policy when I asked citing that that is only shared after starting the job.

If for some reason they did not pay can I claim it from HMRC considering my normal place of work is home?

GingerTim

You might be able to claim tax relief on travel and accommodation if your employer doesnt cover it, but HMRC are not going to pay for the actual travel and hotel.

Given the company have said in writing that they will pay your expenses I'm not sure what you are worried about?

Grumpy_chap

sultan123 said:

In my contract it says my normal place of work is my home.

The company do have an office in London which I am expected to go to once a month most likely.

They say they will pay for my  travel and accomodation if I come down to their offifce. This was confirmed by email. However they would not share expenses policy when I asked citing that that is only shared after starting the job.

If for some reason they did not pay can I claim it from HMRC considering my normal place of work is home?

It sounds like you may be over-thinking this.

The employer has stated they will pay for your travel and overnight subsistence.  You need to trust them (if you don't have even this level of trust, it does not bode well).  The expenses policy can change from time to time.
If the expenses policy states to travel standard class rail, budget hotel, limited meal allowance as appropriate.  If you then deemed chauffer driven limousine, luxury hotel and fine dining as required, the employer could refuse to cover the costs (or even contribute).  You would not then be able to claim tax relief against the expense outlaid as it would not be "wholly, exclusively and necessarily" incurred in relation to employment.

As for the home working, you may be able to claim tax relief against the standard allowance of £6 per week (£1.20 less tax per week for basic rate tax payer England).  It may be covered under the rules "your job requires you to live far from your office".  The detail is important, because there is a difference between your choice to live far from the office and the job requiring you to live far from the office.

sultan123

GingerTim said:

You might be able to claim tax relief on travel and accommodation if your employer doesnt cover it, but HMRC are not going to pay for the actual travel and hotel.

Given the company have said in writing that they will pay your expenses I'm not sure what you are worried 

Thanks.

I am just worried incase in future they decide not to cover expenses?

How would tax relief work?

Grumpy_chap

sultan123 said:

Thanks.

I am just worried incase in future they decide not to cover expenses?

How would tax relief work?

Why are you worried?

I described the tax relief upthread.  You would need to claim via your tax return or as described in the following link if you do not need to submit tax return:
https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees

GingerTim

sultan123 said:

GingerTim said:

You might be able to claim tax relief on travel and accommodation if your employer doesnt cover it, but HMRC are not going to pay for the actual travel and hotel.

Given the company have said in writing that they will pay your expenses I'm not sure what you are worried 

Thanks.

I am just worried incase in future they decide not to cover expenses?

How would tax relief work?

As @grumpy_chap says, you really are overthinking this. What reason do you have to worry that they might not?

https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/travel-and-overnight-expenses

p00hsticks

The company may well have a policy of booking items such as car hire, flights, hotel accommodation etc themselves - rather than leave it to the individual employee to arrange, pay for and then put through as expenses. 

sultan123

Grumpy_chap said:

sultan123 said:

Thanks.

I am just worried incase in future they decide not to cover expenses?

How would tax relief work?

Why are you worried?

I described the tax relief upthread.  You would need to claim via your tax return or as described in the following link if you do not need to submit tax return:
https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees

Reason I am worried is as my contract also says they can change my location with reasonable advanced notice.

GingerTim

sultan123 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

sultan123 said:

Thanks.

I am just worried incase in future they decide not to cover expenses?

How would tax relief work?

Why are you worried?

I described the tax relief upthread.  You would need to claim via your tax return or as described in the following link if you do not need to submit tax return:
https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees

Reason I am worried is as my contract also says they can change my location with reasonable advanced notice.

Which is a standard clause that's in almost all employment contracts, WFH or not. Relax!

sultan123

GingerTim said:

sultan123 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

sultan123 said:

Thanks.

I am just worried incase in future they decide not to cover expenses?

How would tax relief work?

Why are you worried?

I described the tax relief upthread.  You would need to claim via your tax return or as described in the following link if you do not need to submit tax return:
https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees

Reason I am worried is as my contract also says they can change my location with reasonable advanced notice.

Which is a standard clause that's in almost all employment contracts, WFH or not. Relax!

Oh is it? That is comforting to know!

They said it is a standard mobility clause that is in there but unlikely they will use it. Also said any such request would be reasonable.

Savvy_Sue

sultan123 said:

Oh is it? That is comforting to know!

They said it is a standard mobility clause that is in there but unlikely they will use it. Also said any such request would be reasonable.

And remember, if you disagree with the reasonableness of their request, they can't MAKE you attend the new office. There's always job-hunting! And they WOULD have to give notice, and almost certainly consult beforehand.