[matt]

what do you all claim for

so far i have

mobile phone
clothing
mileage

anything else ?? ?? ??

[windows_chepstow]

Matt,

There's loads of stuff; basically anything you spend on maintaining your business.

Clothing is a bit of a grey area though.  I'm sure I've read here you can only claim if it's got a logo on it.

So you can't claim for that £7000 minx coat you use to keep warm during the winter months; unless your business name is on it.

I bought a bar-b-cue and had some friends round; a couple of which I clean their windows.  Could I put all the costs down as 'entertainments'?

Probably not.

However, I claim for anything; regardless of the rules which I honestly believe is a business expence.  The installation of my out-side tap for example.  The shed I now store my WFP gear in. 

There's a good book, available in your local library called 'Self Assessment for the Self Employed'.  It's a very good read.

[Paul Coleman]

what do you all claim for

so far i have

mobile phone
clothing
mileage

anything else ?? ?? ??

A portion of the electricity bill (computer, lighting for office, washing machine for cleaning work clothes, cloths etc) and now that we have a few more gizmos, we use electricity to recharge them too so having a portion of the electric bill is a reasonable business expense IMO.
Also, a portion of the washing machine itself can be booked as business expense - including repairs and maintenance.  Also a proportion of washing powder.
Office fan, stationery, landline, accountancy fee (you have got one, haven't you?), any chair/desk setup for your office, public liability insurance, vehicle insurance (but not personal insurance policies).  I think you can even book up to £10 per year per customer for gifts/entertainments but make sure it's for real.  You can't go around booking $10 per customer if you haven't actually spent anything  .  However, I have heard of a window cleaner who sent all his customers an Xmas card and booked the card and postage against tax and it was perfectly legitimate (no, he wasn't a JW) oops - sorry !! 
Regarding the clothing logo, I think you can book the clothing if it's obviously a work item.  For instance, I use one piece boiler suits and hard toe capped, slip-resistant safety shoes.  No logos but it would be hard for the IR to argue that I used such items out of work.
Also, if you ever do a big job a long way from home that is going to take more than a day (very unlikely I know) then you can book the cost of B&B.
I have also booked black rubbish sacks for when I do gutter cleaning.
Some of thew above items will have to be apportioned as they are probably part business/part personal.  Just make sure you keep the receipts and mark them up accordingly.

[Paul Coleman]

what do you all claim for

so far i have

mobile phone
clothing
mileage

anything else ?? ?? ??

A portion of the electricity bill (computer, lighting for office, washing machine for cleaning work clothes, cloths etc) and now that we have a few more gizmos, we use electricity to recharge them too so having a portion of the electric bill is a reasonable business expense IMO.
Also, a portion of the washing machine itself can be booked as business expense - including repairs and maintenance.  Also a proportion of washing powder.
Office fan, stationery, landline, accountancy fee (you have got one, haven't you?), any chair/desk setup for your office, public liability insurance, vehicle insurance (but not personal insurance policies).  I think you can even book up to £10 per year per customer for gifts/entertainments but make sure it's for real.  You can't go around booking $10 per customer if you haven't actually spent anything  .  However, I have heard of a window cleaner who sent all his customers an Xmas card and booked the card and postage against tax and it was perfectly legitimate (no, he wasn't a JW) oops - sorry !! 
Regarding the clothing logo, I think you can book the clothing if it's obviously a work item.  For instance, I use one piece boiler suits and hard toe capped, slip-resistant safety shoes.  No logos but it would be hard for the IR to argue that I used such items out of work.
Also, if you ever do a big job a long way from home that is going to take more than a day (very unlikely I know) then you can book the cost of B&B.
I have also booked black rubbish sacks for when I do gutter cleaning.
Some of thew above items will have to be apportioned as they are probably part business/part personal.  Just make sure you keep the receipts and mark them up accordingly.

Just to add to what I've written you're not late with your tax either.  You have until January 31st to do it.  However, now that you have gone past the September 30th deadline, you will have to calculate your own bill (or get an accountant to do it).

[matt]

cheers all

yes i have a accountant, she is very "low risk" so doesnt claim that much from everything

i forgot PL insurance

i think my account told me last year, when i handed my books to her just b4 xmas, if i got past a certain date, i would have to pay the next 6 months as a extimate, thus 18 momths

i wasnt sure on that date

[busydaffodil]

I think you accountant was telling you about something different. There is no date deadline that would make you forward pay.     (At least none I have heard of and I've been self employed for 12 years).

What your accountant is saying, I think, is about the amount you have to pay.  If your tax bill is over £500, you have to also pay a proportion of the following years tax bill (about 50%).  This really is only hassle on your first years pre-payment as subsequent years are the remaining 50% and 50% of the future year.  Hope I have explained that ok?
Unfortunately, most self employed people now have to pay in advance.   Anyone thats been self employed for a few years, would have noticed their NI Contributions bill go down from £85.50 a quarter to £26.00 (Now £27.50).  People assumed this was just a reduction.  What many people do not realise is that the shortfall was added to their other NI contributions, collected with their tax bill, which for most people UNDER the £500 a year tax bill, rasied it another £300 ish, taking them Over the £500 limit which meant they had to pre-pay!     Confused yet?   
This was explained by my accountant 2 years ago.  Also, on the subject of running businesses seperately.   I would prefer to keep things seperate.   As far as VAT goes though, if both businesses are in 1 persons name only, the total sales of BOTH businesses are taken into account whendeciding whether to register for VAT.    I'm not sure what the threshold is but it used to be about £54,000.     So if 1 business in Mr Jones' name was TAKING £40,000 and Mr Jones' other business was taking £25,000, he would be liable to register for VAT as £40,000 + £25,000 would take him over VAT threshold.   Jeez.....I confuse myself!

Hope that helps

Lizzy

[matt]

thanks

last year my tax bill was real small, as i spent time as a carpenter and as i was paid a fair amount, that covered my tax bill

so now i will haev to pay 18 months bill then

[busydaffodil]

thanks

last year my tax bill was real small, as i spent time as a carpenter and as i was paid a fair amount, that covered my tax bill

so now i will haev to pay 18 months bill then

realistically, if your tax bill is over £200, added to the NI contributions of approx £300 you will have to pay all last years tax 2004/2005 and 50% of 2005/2006.   But next year will only be the remaining 50% of next years and 50% of the following so only 1 year really.  Only this year will be more difficult as you will have 1 and half yesrs to pay.   Remember, you payment also has to be in by 31st January 2006 too.

I always put away 25% of my weekly profit. Out of this I pay my quarterly NI bills. The rest I save for Inland Revenue.  I always do my accounts so I know what to pay BEFORE xmas as I always have some over so have the spare money for Xmas.  I view it as a savings plan.

Good luck

[matt]

i just leave all my comercail money in a biz account and thats my tax bill taken care of

thanks for the advice, looks like this year my tax bill will be heafty then