^ TopWhat can you claim?
Contractor start up expenses that can be claimed
All the expenses you can incur on start up and what can be claimed.
Valid expenses as a contractor - what you can claim
We describe in detail what expenses are allowed to be claimed when you are contracting.
Contractor Doctor: What are Schedule E expenses?
Contractors can claim Schedule E expenses via their umbrella company or contracting limited company to reduce the amount of tax and NICs they pay.
How can contractors identify deductible contracting expenses?
Barry Roback of JSA Group shares with ContractorCalculator his insights into what constitutes a valid deductible expense for contractors, in the face of increased scrutiny by HMRC of what some contractors are claiming.
How contractors should process contracting expenses
Contractors who run their own limited company can use really simple systems to ensure they keep accurate, up-to-date expenses records for their tax and VAT accounting, as well as ensure they get to claim everything they can.
How to charge contracting expenses back to your client
Contractors who incur expenses when working for their clients can claim them back, but they need to be processed correctly depending on the nature of the expense and your VAT status.
Contractor expenses: don't get caught by HMRC's 'duality of purpose' trap
Contractors who have incurred expenses partly for business purposes and partly for personal reasons should be careful how they claim tax relief.
^ TopDispensation
Umbrellas, HMRC, and dispensation agreements
How the HMRC views Umbrella Companies and an explanation of dispensation agreements
Dispensation and why contractors cannot claim expenses without receipts
Explains the Inland Revenue expenses rules, what an Inland Revenue Dispensation agreement means, and why you cannot claim without receipts.
Can contractors claim expenses without receipts?
Contractors using umbrella solutions often ask potential suppliers how much expenses can be claimed. But do these expenses need receipts?
^ TopGifts and Entertainment
Buying gifts for employees and clients - what you can claim
The tax man is not particularly generous when it comes to treating your staff as this article explains!
Contractor doctor: can expenses be claimed for entertainment?
Answers a question from a reader about the rules for claiming entertainment expenses.
Contractor Doctor: Can I give myself a tax-free long service award?
Contracting and contractors have been around for a few decades now. Does this mean contractors may pay themselves tax-free awards for long service?
^ TopUse of Home as office
Claiming contractor expenses for use of home as office
Discusses if claims should be made for use of home, what the rules are, and what can be claimed.
Contractors can take reasonable home business deductions
With recent changes to tax practice, contractors who really use their homes for business can deduct more expenses from their taxes.
What expenses can contractors claim for using a home office?
Contractors who spend time working in their offices at home can claim a proportion of the running costs of their home as legitimate business expenses, thereby saving money on their tax and personal outgoings.
^ TopCompany Cars
Buying a company car - is it worth it?
Should you buy your own car and charge it to the company, or purchase it as a company car through the company?
Contractors can buy low emission company cars tax efficiently
Contractors buying company cars has been of borderline benefit, but James Abbott of Baker Watkin explains that low emission cars may tip the balance.
Contractors can claim expenses for using a bicycle or motorcycle for travel
Contractors can claim mileage allowances for using their bicycle or motorcycle to travel to and from work. However, there is no tax relief for the purchase of the bicycle or motorcycle.
Contractors should be aware of new taxi rules
The new rules regarding taxi expenses only affect contractors under very specific circumstances.
^ TopAccommodation
Relocation costs are your responsibility when contracting
If a contract obliges you to relocate, you need to account for the costs. You may deduct a large part of it all from tax, but that may still leave you with a hefty bill. Here's how to handle it.
Contractors can claim expenses for renting a flat or house near the workplace
You can do almost anything you want with your rented flat or house near the client workplace, so long as you maintain your principal residence.
Contractor doctor: is renting a home near the contract site an allowable expense?
Contractors who rent a place to live near where they are working can deduct almost all expenses if the accomodation they are renting isn't their principal place of residence.
Contractors can claim costs for staying overnight on business with friends and family
Contractors can stay with friends and family when working away from home on business and claim the expense. What’s more, the friend can also benefit.
Contractor Doctor: I’ve bought a house to be near my clients: what costs can I claim?
Contractors who buy a second home to be closer to clients can claim a range of costs as expenses, explains David Colom of DJ Colom & Co.
Contractors can recover unclaimed travel expenses from past contracts
If a contractor has failed to claim for past travel expenses, these can still be recovered under certain conditions.
Contractor travel expenses, tax relief and the 24-month rule explained
Contractors can sometimes claim tax relief on their travel expenses, saving them money as long as they keep to HMRC’s rules.
Is it worth contractors buying a company car?
Even with efficient, low emission cars, most contractors are better off claiming private mileage, says Phil Richards of accountants Blevins Franks.
Contractor doctor: if I contract at a former employers can I claim for travel?
Should your former employer offer you a contract, you still have all the rights contractors are entitled to. But you have to be very careful about IR35.
Contractor doctor: does taking a break get around the 24 month contractor expenses rule?
Answers a contractor's question about the 24 month expenes rule and explains the rules in detail.
Contractor doctor: can you clarify the 24 month expense rules?
A contractor requires some clarification on the 24 month expense rules. At what point does the rule kick in, and can the 24 month clock be reset with a new contract?
Contractor Doctor: Does contracting for different clients at the same location affect the 24 month rule?
Contractors can change clients at the same location and ‘reset’ their 24 month rule expenses status, but only under certain conditions.
Contractor doctor: can I claim food expenses and without receipts?
A contractor enquiries if they can claim for unreciepted food expenses.
Training expenses - what contractors can claim
Investment in training can pay real dividends for contractors in order to maintain and upgrade their skills. Although most relevant training costs can be claimed, some types of training are excluded by HMRC.
Contractor Doctor: Can I claim for training as a pre-incorporation expense?
Contractors have limited scope to claim for training expenses incurred before incorporation, explains Steve Crouch of Crunch.co.uk.
^ TopIR35 issues
Contractor doctor: does charging expenses to your client affect your IR35 position?
Legitmate business expenses can be recharged to clients without affacting IR35 status as long as some simple guidelines are followed.
^ TopHMRC Inspections
Minimising the risk of a HMRC inspection
Discusses the issues that raise alarm bells with HMRC, and advises how to minimise the risk of an investigation.