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| CURRENT SECTION :: Money News | UK's most visited IT Contractor Site - 250k unique visitors March 2008 |
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Unlike the rigorous rules for expenses that contractors must follow, 83,000 staff at HMRC, the enforcing authority, do not have to submit receipts for costs they incur. News of what seems to be an anomaly at HMRC in how staff expenses should be claimed was disclosed by the department under the Freedom of Information Act. Responding to the request by accountant UHY Hacker Young, HMRC’s reply reveals its officials claim £100 to stay overnight in London without handing over receipts. An overnight stay in the capital away from their office also entitles a claim of £20 for an evening meal, again with no onus on staff to submit receipts to their employer. Disclosures of the receipt waiver, obtained by a national paper, add that instead of staying at a hotel, staff can choose to stay with friends or relatives, for which £25 is claimable. A further £7.60 can be claimed if staff are on stand-by after a day’s work in the office, while sleeping in their office after working late is reimbursed with £10.90. Although the Revenue reportedly said staff always chose the cheapest option when working irregularly, the department has apparently urged them not to publicise their allowances. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Clive Gawthorpe, a partner at UHY Hacker Young, also said the Revenue’s “generous” policy contrasts the expenses regime for companies and individuals. He reflected :“Accountants who frequently face challenges over expenses for as little as £10 will find it ironic that HMRC runs such a liberal ‘no questions asked’ system for its own employees.” However the department was said to insist that staff were required to keep receipts for all claimed expenditure over £10. Last week an internal survey at HMRC, taken when the department lost 25million taxpayers’ details, reportedly found that three quarters of its workforce feel their working conditions have deteriorated. Apr 17, 2008 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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