List of Expenses to write off

This list is not exhaustive but it’s pretty comprehensive. Feel free to let me know what may have been left out.

• Accountant’s and Bookkeeper’s fees.
• Advertising, publicity, brochures, photographs, business cards and flyers.
• Agents commission.
• Bad debts (included in turnover).
• Bank charges.
• Books not retained for more than two years.
• Bulbs, fuses, locks, keys, plugs, leads and minor repairs.
• Casual labour (check whether to be paid through PAYE).
• Computer consumables including CDs, DVD, USB memory sticks, external hard drives, (backup) and software annual licence fee.
• Courier charges.
• Data protection registration and renewal fees.
• Workwear (eg uniform, not a suit bought for work. There must be no dual purpose).
• Hire of protective clothing/ uniform.
• Laundering and dry cleaning of protective clothing/ uniform.
• Cost of protective clothing/ uniform.
• Specific workwear for engagement (at behest of engager and no private use).
• Gifts to charity/ local good causes and gifts to customers costing up to £50 and bearing the business name.
• Heat and light – calculate business use on area occupied.
• Hire and lease.
• Hotel accommodation.
• Insurance including office and business property policies.
• Interest.
• Journals and catalogues.
• Legal costs including fee recovery and to fix engagements.
• Motoring expenses (include motor cycle and/ or car), keep a log of the total and business mileage for each vehicle so that the business element of the following can be calculated:
  • Breakdown subscription/ insurance.
  • Car hire, petrol allowance to shared car driver.
  • Car repairs, servicing, MOT, oils, antifreeze.
  • Motor insurance.
  • Parking at engagements, tolls and ferries.
  • Petrol.
  • Road fund licence.
• Newspapers and journals (if specific to your work).
• Own property – calculate business percentage of the following using floor area:
• Cleaning.
• Insurance.
• Rent and rates.
• Repairs and maintenance.
• Photocopying and printing.
• Porterage, carriage, securicor.
• Postage
• Purchases of stock/ materials.
• Recording equipment.
• Batteries for radio/ cassette recorder/ calculator.
• Memory cards.
• Removal expenses.
• Research assistance and material.
• Rent and rates of premises – calculate business percentage on floor area basis.
• Royalties.
• Secretarial assistance including payments to spouse/ partner at the market rate for the work provided – to be paid through PAYE system.
• Seminars.
• Software for your computer, web domain registration and hosting fees.
• Tools – hand and electric (not kept for more than 2 years).
• Staff welfare including first aid and beverages and Christmas party.
• Stationery and printing including inkjet cartridges and toner.
• Subscriptions to professional bodies.
• Subsistence – you are allowed to claim the cost of all your meals when on overseas engagements. Only claim the cost of the evening meal when on tour in the UK and daytime meals incurred on business travel.
• Subcontractors.
• Telephone:
  • Landline – request call transaction listing from the line provider to calculate business amounts.
  • Internet connection.
  • Mobile.
  • Coin box calls.
• Training for engagements in hand.
• Travel:
  • Bicycle repairs and maintenance, consumables and insurance – calculate the business use on a mileage basis.
  • Fares to the engager.
  • Fares to others than the engager, e.g. suppliers, libraries, seminars.
  • Inoculations.
  • Travel cancellation fees.
  • Travel insurance.
  • Visas.
• Use of home as office.
• Wages and salaries – to be paid through PAYE.
• Warranties. e.g. on PCs.
• Miscellaneous expenses – give a full description of each item and state why you are claiming it.

Ensure you read up on what proportion of any of the above you can claim. I accept no liability for any reliance placed on the above list. If in doubt, speak to your accountant or get in touch.