Expenses right or wrong?

[bradbury1982]

Hi all does these figures look about right, bearing in mind I work 9-3pm any childminding I do is before and after school from 6am-8:45am then 3:15-8pm oh and weekends. Just wanted to check my figures see what people thought.

Hours Worked % Heating & Lighting % Water & C/Tax % Sky Tv/Line Rental
10 8% 2% 20%
15 12% 4% 30%
20 17% 5% 40%
25 21% 6% 50%
30 25% 7% 60%
35 29% 9% 70%
40(full time) 33% 10% 80%

Hours Worked % H/Hold Ins % Mobile Rental
10 4% 20%
15 6% 30%
20 6% 40%
25 8% 50%
30 8% 60%
35 10% 70%
40(full time) 10% 80%

[sarah707]

The latest figures are uploaded in free downloads at the top of the forum - left hand side 'tax information'.

Hth

[bradbury1982]

thanks i am a bit useless when it comes to finding things

[Chatterbox Childcare]

Mobile phone is actual usage not a %

[bradbury1982]

my line rental covers all my call and txts and if I werent childminding I would have pay as you go so i need to work it out on percentage

[sarah707]

my line rental covers all my call and txts and if I werent childminding I would have pay as you go so i need to work it out on percentage

You can't specify that and make yourself an exception I'm afraid.

You have to use the rules negotiated by NCMA and set down by HMRC.

If you are ever investigated and have chosen to do things differently from the rules you will be penalised.

As Debbie says for phones you claim for the actual calls /text costs made only.
Hth

[MrAnchovy]

You have to use the rules negotiated by NCMA and set down by HMRC.

No that's not true. Every taxpayer has the right to claim expenses incurred necessarily and exclusively in the course of her business (except where specifically prohibited, such as entertaining expenses) - and there isn't any specific concession for mobile phones for childminders anyway.

If you have an inclusive rate (as most people do), the only way you can do it is by percentage of calls made - and if you don't have itemised billing, this is going to be difficult.

Alternatively, you can try and persuade HMRC that you use the phone/blackberry so much for business, and so little for private calls/emails, that any private use is immaterial so you claim the lot.

What you can't do, which I think is where Sarah is coming from, is just make up percentages to claim of various bills that correspond to hours worked - the only expenses you can do this for are the ones in the HMRC concession. For everything else, you have to come up with a fair apportionment of the actual cost incurred, according to the actual amount it is used for business.

[bradbury1982]

thanks for that x another quick one can i claim for paint to touch up walls etc due too mucky hands or does that come under wear and tear?

[MrAnchovy]

The 10% wear and tear allowance is specifically for furnishings (which includes carpet), not decoration, repairs or maintenance.

You can claim a proportion of these costs, the question is what proportion. If you are making good damage specifically caused by mindees, I think there is a good argument for claiming the whole amount.