Evening meals whilst working away

**kirk** · 7 November 2007, 21:05

If I'm working away from home (i.e. staying in a hotel) I always expense the full cost of meal + drinks (reasonable of course). I did this while I was permie and I'm a permie of my Ltd. co now so what's different

**TheFaQQer** · 7 November 2007, 21:56

If you are working away, then you can claim £5 a day in the UK or £10 outside the UK with no need for receipts for odds and ends.

You can claim for subsistence bills that you would not normally incur - for example, you should not claim for lunch. If you are staying away from home, then you can claim other meals.

Even if you are not working away, and for an unusual reason (e.g. you suddenly need to work until 10pm one night) you incur a food bill, then you can still claim that.

**shelby68** · 7 November 2007, 21:58

Thanks TheFaQQer, I will have a word with my accountant

**Keldin** · 8 November 2007, 08:05

You can claim anything you like from your company just as you could when you were a permie. It all depends on how generous your ex company's expenses policy was and how generous your current company's policy is. Don't however get these confused with Her Maj's policies on what's taxable for you as a BIK or taxable for your company.

K

**Mr Maginka** · 8 November 2007, 09:24

I'm new to this lark. Does the same apply too, if the permanent place of work is away from home i.e. 300 miles away? Could lodgings be claimed also?

**NotAllThere** · 8 November 2007, 12:45

The best way to consider it is; if I were working for a consultancy, would I expect them to pay this expense. If you think "yes" then ask your accountant whether it's likely to be a BIK. If not, then go ahead.

Also ask your accountant, what, typically, you can claim as a business expense without BIK tax being due.

**Bluebird** · 8 November 2007, 13:19

Originally posted by shelby68 View Post

I know this has probably done the rounds before but I can't find a straight answer,

I'm currently working away from home living in rented accommodation, my accountant has told me I can only claim £5 a night for a meal as subsistence and that needs to be receipted.

I was under the impression that you could reimburse the full cost of an evening meal up to a reasonable amount whilst working away and get a £5 a night subsistence allowance for general odds and sods, any one got a definitive take on this?

Are you Ltd or Umbrella ?

If ltd you can get your ltd to pay for any amount, however you yourself may have to pay BIK tax on anything you do claim.

Also it's best to work along the lines of - only claim ofr things you have got a reciept for - the exception to this is milage.

**shelby68** · 12 November 2007, 19:26

Originally posted by Bluebird View Post

Are you Ltd or Umbrella ?

If ltd you can get your ltd to pay for any amount, however you yourself may have to pay BIK tax on anything you do claim.

Also it's best to work along the lines of - only claim ofr things you have got a reciept for - the exception to this is milage.

Limited

**xoggoth** · 12 November 2007, 21:46

All this is covered in booklet 490 if you can find it. I can never find bugger all on the HMRC website since the merger thing. 480 is useful too.

Evening meals whilst working away