What are allowable expenses?

If you’re travelling exclusively for business purposes, you can claim your motor expenses as “allowable expenses”. Although it doesn’t include if:

• You travel between just your home and your permanent workplace
• Private travel

How do you calculate your motor expenses?

If you don’t have receipts for all your travel, then you can estimate your motor expenses by using any motor expense calculator online, or use HMRC’s fixed mileage rates.

You can use the mileage method to calculate your car, van or motorcycle expenses using a flat rate for mileage instead of the actual costs of buying and running your vehicle, eg insurance, repairs, servicing, fuel. You can find more information on how to do that here.

What records can I keep?

If you decide you want to use your receipts to calculate your expenses as opposed to the mileage method, you should keep record of:

• fuel/oil;
• insurance;
• vehicle tax;
• repairs/servicing;
• parts;
• recovery subscription;
• MOT.

You can use the vehicle for both private and business use, however you can only claim on the expense incurred whilst using it for business. Therefore, it’s advised to keep track of these expenses using your business account. It’s worth noting it down once the accounting period begins. If you use your receipts, you will also be allowed to claim capital allowances.

We help our clients get the most out of there expenses, we’re able to guide our clients into understanding which expenses can be claimed and which can’t. Give us a ring today on 0208 561 8388 today to see if we can help.