Mileage receipts - HMRC - contracting

Bob Fleming

Striker
Question for the tax experts/avoiders on here.

As an employee if I use my own car for work and make a mileage claim is there any obligation from HMRC that receipts must be kept?

I am a contractor but within IR35 and so working via an umbrella company. So I am classed as an employee of that umbrella company. I had to use my car for work. Having used my car for work many times in the past where I have been an employee (permanent) of other companies I've never kept receipts as they've never needed them.

The umbrella company are insisting HMRC say they have to have them. But they can accept a bank statement showing a transaction for fuel. Which to me is just bizarre.

I've not been able to find a definitive answer. Anyone know for sure?

I know that if I was outside of IR35 that I would need to keep them for VAT claim.
 


When I was under umbrella company I think the only thing that was exempt from showing receipts was for standard daily allowances for food. I think even that changed but I had moved to limited company/outside IR35 by then. I would imagine you need receipts for all expense claims? Guessing the bank statements are allowed as alterntive if showing what the payment was for (or at, eg. garage).
 
Question for the tax experts/avoiders on here.

As an employee if I use my own car for work and make a mileage claim is there any obligation from HMRC that receipts must be kept?

I am a contractor but within IR35 and so working via an umbrella company. So I am classed as an employee of that umbrella company. I had to use my car for work. Having used my car for work many times in the past where I have been an employee (permanent) of other companies I've never kept receipts as they've never needed them.

The umbrella company are insisting HMRC say they have to have them. But they can accept a bank statement showing a transaction for fuel. Which to me is just bizarre.

I've not been able to find a definitive answer. Anyone know for sure?

I know that if I was outside of IR35 that I would need to keep them for VAT claim.
Wouldn't a mileage log be acceptable?
 
Question for the tax experts/avoiders on here.

As an employee if I use my own car for work and make a mileage claim is there any obligation from HMRC that receipts must be kept?

I am a contractor but within IR35 and so working via an umbrella company. So I am classed as an employee of that umbrella company. I had to use my car for work. Having used my car for work many times in the past where I have been an employee (permanent) of other companies I've never kept receipts as they've never needed them.

The umbrella company are insisting HMRC say they have to have them. But they can accept a bank statement showing a transaction for fuel. Which to me is just bizarre.

I've not been able to find a definitive answer. Anyone know for sure?

I know that if I was outside of IR35 that I would need to keep them for VAT claim.
Not really my field but i believe HMRC have 4 years in which to ask for the receipts if they don't like the look of your claim. I wouldn't have thought receipts would matter too much if you're keeping a log of business miles as part of the MAPs process. It's probably worth keeping the receipts as they can ask for them as proof that the fuel was bought for the mileage claim.
 
Question for the tax experts/avoiders on here.

As an employee if I use my own car for work and make a mileage claim is there any obligation from HMRC that receipts must be kept?

I am a contractor but within IR35 and so working via an umbrella company. So I am classed as an employee of that umbrella company. I had to use my car for work. Having used my car for work many times in the past where I have been an employee (permanent) of other companies I've never kept receipts as they've never needed them.

The umbrella company are insisting HMRC say they have to have them. But they can accept a bank statement showing a transaction for fuel. Which to me is just bizarre.

I've not been able to find a definitive answer. Anyone know for sure?

I know that if I was outside of IR35 that I would need to keep them for VAT claim.
gan to the petrol station man yer tight wad:lol:
 
Not really my field but i believe HMRC have 4 years in which to ask for the receipts if they don't like the look of your claim. I wouldn't have thought receipts would matter too much if you're keeping a log of business miles as part of the MAPs process. It's probably worth keeping the receipts as they can ask for them as proof that the fuel was bought for the mileage claim.
But it doesn't prove the mileage was bought for the claim at all really.

I could fill up. Pootle around town eyeing up the blart and then claim I'd done a business trip. It doesn't prove anything.

Does anyone else's employer make them submit a petrol receipt when claiming miles?

Hmrc don't need receipts
This is what I've tried to tell them. I've now asked them to send me an email pointing out where HMRC require this.

Wankers have also rejected one trip because I'd claimed 99 miles but their routefinder came up with 94. 5 friggin miles man. And I'm not always going to use the exact route your routefinder came up with.
 
But it doesn't prove the mileage was bought for the claim at all really.

I could fill up. Pootle around town eyeing up the blart and then claim I'd done a business trip. It doesn't prove anything.

Does anyone else's employer make them submit a petrol receipt when claiming miles?


This is what I've tried to tell them. I've now asked them to send me an email pointing out where HMRC require this.

Wankers have also rejected one trip because I'd claimed 99 miles but their routefinder came up with 94. 5 friggin miles man. And I'm not always going to use the exact route your routefinder came up with.

They're probably claiming the vat back so need vat receipts
 
Question for the tax experts/avoiders on here.

As an employee if I use my own car for work and make a mileage claim is there any obligation from HMRC that receipts must be kept?

I am a contractor but within IR35 and so working via an umbrella company. So I am classed as an employee of that umbrella company. I had to use my car for work. Having used my car for work many times in the past where I have been an employee (permanent) of other companies I've never kept receipts as they've never needed them.

The umbrella company are insisting HMRC say they have to have them. But they can accept a bank statement showing a transaction for fuel. Which to me is just bizarre.

I've not been able to find a definitive answer. Anyone know for sure?

I know that if I was outside of IR35 that I would need to keep them for VAT claim.

They don't even have to report mileage allowance payments to HMRC provided the rates aren't higher than the appoved rates, let alone provide receipts - Expenses and benefits: business travel mileage for employees' own vehicles.

Immediately bin these incompetent morons.
 
But it doesn't prove the mileage was bought for the claim at all really.

I could fill up. Pootle around town eyeing up the blart and then claim I'd done a business trip. It doesn't prove anything.

Does anyone else's employer make them submit a petrol receipt when claiming miles?


This is what I've tried to tell them. I've now asked them to send me an email pointing out where HMRC require this.

Wankers have also rejected one trip because I'd claimed 99 miles but their routefinder came up with 94. 5 friggin miles man. And I'm not always going to use the exact route your routefinder came up with.
It doesn't prove the mileage but it proves the fuel was bought to cover the mileage. Theoretically, HMRC can ask you for proof of your business journeys although they are extremely unlikely to do so unless it looks like you're taking the piss. If you have dodgy claims then they might make an assessment on your behalf and, predictably, you're unlikely to come out of that well. The onus is on you so perhaps your company are just being cautious?
 
It doesn't prove the mileage but it proves the fuel was bought to cover the mileage. Theoretically, HMRC can ask you for proof of your business journeys although they are extremely unlikely to do so unless it looks like you're taking the piss. If you have dodgy claims then they might make an assessment on your behalf and, predictably, you're unlikely to come out of that well. The onus is on you so perhaps your company are just being cautious?
Nah I reckon they are trying to claim the tax.

And it doesn't prove the fuel was bought to cover the mileage. There no linking that purchase to the miles. I could easily make up some business journeys around the time I usually fill up.

I don't think hmrc need it and most of my searches and people here confirm it. So I'm going to gan off it again on Monday.
 

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