Can You Beat These Bizarre Expenses Claims?
Usually, it’s the politicians who make the headlines with their ‘creative’ expenses claims, but to wrap up the decade, and as a reminder of the 31 January Self Assessment deadline, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a list of their top ten most weird and wonderful expenses claims.
According to the HMRC website, Angela MacDonald, HMRC Director General of Customer Services, said: “Each year, we try to make it as easy and simple as possible for our customers to complete their tax returns and the majority make the effort to do theirs right and on time. But, we still come across some unusual excuses and expenses which range from problems with a mother-in-law to yachts set on fire.”
The top 10 most bizarre excuses and questionable expenses claims for items, in reverse order, are:
- caravan rental for the Easter weekend
- I was up a mountain in Wales, and couldn’t find a post box or get an internet signal
- my dog ate the post … again
- claiming £4.50 for sausage and chips meal expenses for 250 days
- my hamster ate my post
- I’ve been cruising around the world in my yacht, and only picking up post when I’m on dry land
- a music subscription so I can listen to music while I work
- pet food for a Shih Tzu ‘guard dog’
- a DJ was too busy with a party lifestyle – spinning the deck….in a bowls club
- my mother-in-law is a witch and put a curse on me
Of course, none of these excuses worked, and all the claims were unsuccessful. The deadline for sending 2018/2019 Self Assessment tax returns to HMRC, and paying any tax owed, is 31 January. If you need bookkeeping services in Kent, get in touch today.
