Can I put mindees' Christmas presents as an expense?

**stargazer1** · 08-10-2012, 12:33 PM

Does anyone know if I can put mindees' Christmas presents down on my expenses? I've just bought them as they were on a good offer (organised!!

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BuggsieMoo · 08-10-2012, 12:42 PM

I do. x At the end of the day, if I wasnt minding them I wouldnt know them and they wouldnt be getting anything. I only ever spend a little amount on them though as its the thought that counts. x

**ChildcareCate** · 08-10-2012, 12:44 PM

Yes you can - and I do! You can claim the cost of birthday, Christmas presents and even baby presents when siblings born.

**The Juggler** · 08-10-2012, 12:57 PM

i do - and birthdays, plus wrapping paper and cards, presents for parents or cards for their birthdays. as someone said, if you were not minding you would not have bought them

**Jo Jo** · 08-10-2012, 12:59 PM

Me too

**Chimps Childminding** · 08-10-2012, 01:01 PM

Me three!!!!!

**jaswinder bedi** · 08-10-2012, 01:02 PM

Yes i do too!!

**stargazer1** · 08-10-2012, 01:04 PM

Thank you all xxx

BucksCM · 08-10-2012, 01:22 PM

You can claim up to £10 per child...that's what I was told by an HMRC man who came out to our group a good few years ago!

**stargazer1** · 08-10-2012, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by BucksCM

You can claim up to £10 per child...that's what I was told by an HMRC man who came out to our group a good few years ago!

Thats great, I have only spent £5 each, just a token gift xx

aly · 08-10-2012, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by BucksCM

You can claim up to £10 per child...that's what I was told by an HMRC man who came out to our group a good few years ago!

i dont thinkj there is a limit of £10 per child....

BucksCM · 08-10-2012, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by aly

i dont thinkj there is a limit of £10 per child....

It may have changed? I just remember that being said at a meeting I had...gosh...it was nearly 7 years ago(just checked!)
I think if you spend a lot more and were checked you might have to justify the reason why?

**ziggy** · 08-10-2012, 01:31 PM

Could Mr. A confirm whether the limit is £10 per child? although i usually spend about this anyway.

And is it right we can claim for parent's presents? Had to 40th bdays recently!

**MrAnchovy** · 08-10-2012, 03:16 PM

Providing the gift can be considered to be part of the service you are providing there is no limit. For the children's presents I think you could argue this is the case. However for the parents presents it would be harder to argue: I think it would have to be something that was done for every parent, and that was expected because you were their childminder not a friend.

The limit for small business gifts (to anyone) is now £50 a year but they have to carry 'conspicuous advertising for the trader'. So if you have uniform fleeces for instance you could give these, but I'm not sure parents would want them

**winstonian** · 08-10-2012, 06:20 PM

Thanks Mr A

**sillysausage** · 08-10-2012, 06:33 PM

I always put them through my books. I regard them as 'marketting' in the same way companies often give gifts to suppliers or clients. They add to the good will you build up with families and may indirectly contribute to you getting word of mouth referrals.

**MrAnchovy** · 09-10-2012, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by sillysausage

I always put them through my books. I regard them as 'marketting' in the same way companies often give gifts to suppliers or clients. They add to the good will you build up with families and may indirectly contribute to you getting word of mouth referrals.

But when companies do this they are not allowed to deduct the cost from their taxable income, and if the expenditure doesn't fit in the rules I have summarised above (full details here) nor can you.