Q&A

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Q&A

November Q&A

31st October 2023
Is there VAT on gift to top salesperson? Q. You operate a car dealership business and have given a case of champagne to your best performing salesperson. Can you claim input tax on the cost of the champagne because each individual bottle cost you less than £50. Is this correct? A. Unfortunately, your interpretation of...
Q&A

Q&A – August 2023

7th August 2023
GDPR – What information do you hold on me? Q. If an employee wants to make a subject access request, must it be given in a particular format? A. The UK GDPR does not set out any formal requirements or suggestions for a valid subject access request. This means that a subject access request can...
Q&A

Q&A – July 2023

26th June 2023
Can services be zero-rated? Q. We have decided to build a bungalow next to our farmhouse so that my partners elderly mother can live in it and be close to us. We have obtained planning permission for the project and have appointed a builder to start the work. The builder will supply labour and materials....
March Q&A

March Q&A

1st March 2022
Can a director take a company vehicle out of the business to sell? Q. A company director bought a car through his business on finance, it has been a company vehicle for a few years. The finance is now paid off, and he would like to sell it, but as the business is VAT registered,...

February Q&A

1st February 2022
Is VAT payable on cash stolen by employee? Q. We are retailers and have discovered that a member of staff has been understating our sales by taking, say, £30 cash from a customer, and only recording the sale as £25 in the till. Must we account for VAT on the £5 shortfall? Does it make...

May Q&A

3rd May 2021
Expenses for travel to temporary workplaces Q. In April 2020 we furloughed an employee who since June 2019 had been temporarily working away from her normal workplace. She is about to return to work at the temporary location and is expected to be there for the next six months at least. We have always paid...

December Q&A

1st December 2020
Is there VAT on renting out farmland? Q. I have agreed to rent a field from a farmer who is unsure whether he must charge VAT. As far as I am aware, as long as he has not opted to tax the land he does not charge VAT. Is this correct? A. The answer here...
VAT claim for a personally owned van

Q&A – VAT claim for a personally owned van

2nd March 2020
Q. I’m the only director of my company and I own all its shares. I bought a van in my name but I intend to use it in the company’s trade. Can the company reclaim the VAT included in the purchase price? A. If the van was purchased and used privately or for a different...
tax

Q&A – A tax-free perk for being the boss?

2nd March 2020
Q. A friend has told you that he and his wife are taking a tax-free luxury weekend away on the company. Apparently, because the business has been running a long time HMRC allows this. Is this something you can take advantage of? A. Tax rules include a surprisingly long list of benefits in kind which...

Q&A – Can I claim a mileage allowance while using a courtesy car?

2nd March 2020
Q. I’m a director and co-owner of a company. I use my own car for business journeys for which the company pays me a mileage allowance at HMRC’s official rates. Last month my car was off the road for over three weeks for repair and the insurance company provided me with a courtesy car. Apart...