There has been some debate on this in the past with Frauke Golding offering advice from an HMRC representitive that is at odds with the commonly held view.
Frauke stated that if the suit / shirt carries a clear advertisment of the business then it would be allowable.
The common held view is that a suit, even if only worn for work purposes, fails the wholly, necessarily and exclusively test in that the suit whilst intented for work and perhaps only worn at work could be used for other purposes.
Following Frauke's logic I can see how that would work with the traders in the blue and yellow striped clown outfits in the bear pit but for meeting clients do you really want a logo on the pocket? At best that gives the impression that you work for the business rather than own it.
If you are happy to wear a company motif then I think that following Fraukes advice is sound.
If you want a suit to look like a suit rather than a uniform then it would not be an allowable expense as it fails the WN&E test.
kind regards,
Shaun.
p.s. merely looking distinctive is not enough. You still need to have the company logo on the apparel. For example. Who could mistake the McDonalds uniform but note that they still have the company M on the breast pocket.
p.s.2 edited only for spelling mistakes
-- Edited by Shamus on Wednesday 15th of May 2013 01:37:03 PM
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Very true shamus. I networking colleuge put me on to the site as he said EVERYTHING is customisable every down to the thread and button used!!! I thought perfect!!! ideal for the idea i have in my head about how I should look! :D
I'll give the suits a miss i think then for now! :D
-- Edited by ClawzCTR on Wednesday 15th of May 2013 02:20:41 PM
I know other trades are allowed to buy t-shirts/polo shirts etc etc that are branded for thier businesses. But what about us? We cant exactly tip up in a T-Shirt as that would make us look unprofesional.
Well as professionals are we allowed to buy suits and shirts etc for business use? I only ask as I've found a site that can make custom shirts and suits and ties and just about anything else for that matter and you can choose colours and everything... www.itailor.co.uk they are fab and spent about 30 mins designing my outfit. Black shirt with red cuffs and collars... they look mint!
Only thing is, like i say, i want to use this for working in, so technically it would be my 'uniform' is this an allowable business expense do you think for us as bookkeepers/accountants?
Good point Shamus, that site offers a free motief embroding service and I could get 'BTB' done, do you think that would count?
I only really interested in the shirts, suits never have or never will float my boat, i find them too stuffy... i just wear shirts and trousers for working in and client visits.
If you brand your business using Black and red and have black and red shirts with the business motif on the breast pocket I cannot personally see that such would cause issue.
The real bug bear that HMRC have is over suits.
I would certainly not question 5 shirts (one for each workday) per year for a client in such circumstance as it does fit the criteria of being a uniform and not something that would be purchased if you did not have the business.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Sorry to hijack, but sort of on same topic...
What about normal work wear ie work boots/overalls? Just as I have claimed for these for my other halfs return, as they are only used for work and are wholly necessay.
anything required wholly, necessarily and exclusively for the purpose of the work is allowable.
where things go astray is where some directors / business owners try to hijack the meaning of WN&E.
Boots and overalls are of course necessary requirements of someone working in (say) the building trade, but if they were an office worker then they would not be (with some limited exceptions).
Note that for business owners the rules are slightly different in that there is a little more flexibility on the necessarily requirement (but not on wholly or exclusively)... And if you think about it, who are HMRC to say what is necessary to the running of the business, only that it must actually be used exclusively for the business.
kind regards,
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Years ago, I had a client who bought a couple of suits, and because (he claimed) they were available for anyone in the office to use (he wanted his staff to look smart and they were all roughly the same size), my boss said it was fair to put it thorugh as a business asset - because it was only work for meetings and was avaiable to all staff..
Probably a total blag, but I thought it was clever!
lol, I'm going to start locking threads when I start writing my replies.
Hi Kris, hope that you're having a good day.
Personally I'm having one of those lacking motivation afternoons where you just feel burnt out but no idea why.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
bet the suits were totally immaterial to turnover and just got lost in the expenses.
Everything really depends upon which inspector you get as to what they allow and if they had just found that the director had put a new speed boat through the company they probably wouldn't give two hoots about a couple of suits.
As for the whole idea of suits that anyone in the office can wear... shakes lowered head.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Just had a "uniform" made, and feel quite happy to claim it.
Basically , shirt, long sleeved polo shirts, outdoor waterproof jacket, and fleece, which all carry my logo. I even have safety shoes, styled as brogues, and workwear trousers that are treated for waterproofing but look like chinos.
I work in all sorts of sites, some 'normal' but some are in quarries, or on farms out on the moors, so a suit would not appropriate. none of my clients wear suits, even those that work in proper offices.
I have worn suits for work but i have had various comments about being overdressed, so i now dress for the day.
If they are protective clothing you should be ok. Have a look here: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/incometax/relief-tools.htm
Don't forget about the laundry costs.
Kris
Errr laundry, be lucky if he puts his overalls in the wash twice a year! but we wont go into that
That makes sense with the protective clothes.
And the sharing the suits thing sounds rather horrible! Couldn't image any office I've worked in previously sharing suits, it just rings bells of the dreaded "lost and found" box when you forgot your PE kit
Well I called HMRC and spoke to an advisor; Although it may not hold up in court 'i did it cos the advisor told me' line wouldn't wash... but they said as long as it has the business name or logo on then its classed as work wear it doesn't matter if its a t-shirt or shirt or even suit...
Like I say you gotta take it with a pinch of salt but on the whole HMRC allow it! Guess what i'm buying later!!! :D
I may be dreaming this but i am sure many moons ago there was a thread on this very forum, where a forum member attended one of those helpful HMRC seminar thingies,
was told that the suit the speaker was wearing had HMRC discretely embroidered on it in the same colour as the suit, which made it deductible??
Like I said, it may have been a dream, and I will wake up later.
As for waterproofing. It gets a tad wet down 'ere in Kernow
yes, that was where Frauke got her information from that I eluded to in my first reply.
When I tried to find it yesterday though I must have been using the wrong criteria as the search returned everything but the thread that I was thinking of.
Let me try again because I can remember the thread really well, just cannot find it.
talk in a bit,
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Just tried again and although I've found some similar posts from Frauke non of them are the one that I remember... I would go back through her old posts but there are 512 of them so that would take a little while.
I remember that she attended a meeting held by HMRC and was told what I relayed here about the conspicuous branding. Just wish that I had the evidence to hand to point to.
Big thanks to her anyway as hers was the answer even if for the life of me I cannot find it.
kind regards,
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
