24 month rule - specific question

[zonkkk]

I have just received confirmation of contract renewal which will take me over 24 months at one site. I will not be claiming any expenses for anything going forward.

Can I still put in an expense for mileage from the beginning of the month until yesterday?

[malvolio]

Probably. It's dated back from the anticipated or known end date. Presumably up to yesterday you anticipated the gig not continuing over 24 months but now you know it will.

[northernladuk]

So you stop when you got confirmation. You can claim anything before. Not that complicated really.

[ladymuck]

I'm sure HMRC could claim there's a difference between knowing and confirming:

1 May - manager emails to say you're getting an extension - you *know*
31 May - agency issues the paperwork - your're *confirmed*

[malvolio]

I'm sure HMRC could claim there's a difference between knowing and confirming:

1 May - manager emails to say you're getting an extension - you *know*
31 May - agency issues the paperwork - your're *confirmed*

And that's covered by anticipated. If you don't actually blow the 24 month barrIer you can always back claim.

[northernladuk]

HMRC's guidance is littered with the word 'expectation'. The manager emails he's getting an extention is clearly expectation so 1 May will be the date they use.

[Old Greg]

I'm sure HMRC could claim there's a difference between knowing and confirming:

1 May - manager emails to say you're getting an extension - you *know*
31 May - agency issues the paperwork - your're *confirmed*

There is considerable debate in epistemology as to whether 'justified true belief' is a sufficient condition for knowledge.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettier_problem

Imagine this scenario:

1 May - manager emails to say you're getting an extension - you *know*
31 May - agency emails to say you're getting binned

In this case, you didn't 'know' on 1 May that you would get an extension because you can't know something that is untrue.

In a more 'reasonable' interpretation, you have a good business opportunity on 1 May but you don't 'know' with a reasonable level of certainty until 31 May.

[northernladuk]

That is why the guides use the term expectation. There are examples of when the reality doesn't meet expectation. Weirdly if the expectation is 25 months and you get binned at 23 the expectation still stands and you can't claim.

[zonkkk]

Thanks for all the replies. That was my understanding as well (claim up to confirmation date even if claim gets recorded after confirmation), but wanted to hear the voice of the people in the matter.

I'll confirm with the accountant as well.

[Old Greg]

That is why the guides use the term expectation. There are examples of when the reality doesn't meet expectation. Weirdly if the expectation is 25 months and you get binned at 23 the expectation still stands and you can't claim.

The trick is not to expect to accept the extension until the last possible minute.