As a limited company contractor, costs that are incurred wholly and exclusively for your business can be claimed as business expenses, which means that you will receive tax relief on these costs. Claiming business expenses correctly could reduce your tax bill so it is worth taking the time to understand what you can and cannot claim. Our expenses guide for contractors details how expenses can affect your tax bill, examples of what is and is not classed as an expense and the process involved in making a claim.

What can I claim expenses for?

For more information on whether you are able to claim individual costs as an expense you may find our individual expense pages useful:

  • 24 Month Rule for Travel
  • Read for information about claiming travel expenses to your temporary place of work
  • Charity, Entertainment and Sponsorship
  • If you wish to make a charity donation or sponsorship, read our guide for information on how to claim tax relief
  • Childcare Costs
  • Information about how to qualify for a childcare scheme and pay childcare costs directly from your limited company
  • Clothing Expenses
  • If your contract requires a specific uniform or set of equipment, you can claim these items as necessary expenses
  • Company Assets
  • Read our guide for information on what constitutes as a company asset and how to claim tax relief
  • Home Office
  • If your office is your sole place of work, read our guide to learn how to can claim the expenses of costs incurred during your working hours
  • Invoicing Expenses
  • Information about how to claim expenses from clients using different methods
  • Pension Contributions
  • You can invest a portion of your income into a pension scheme and enjoy tax relief. For more information, consult our guide
  • Training Costs
  • You are able to claim expenses on training as long as the courses are relevant to the duties of your contracts
  • Travel Expenses
  • You can claim travel expenses to your temporary place of work. Depending on your mileage and mode of transport, your rates will differ. 

For more information about expenses, you can also refer to our FAQ page.

How could expenses affect my tax bill?

Business expenses are deducted from your company profits and as you only incur tax on your profits if your profits decrease then your tax bill could decrease as well. However, as expenses work on a case by case basis it is always a good idea to speak to an accountant for information about your individual circumstances.

What costs could I claim as a business expense?

According to HMRC, a business expense refers to costs which are incurred wholly and exclusively for your business. As a limited company contractor operating outside of IR35, you may be able to claim costs if they fit this description.

See below for some examples of business expenses:

  • Accountancy Fees – As a limited company contractor you may wish to hire an accountant to take care of your personal and business taxation requirements. As this cost is directly related to the running of your business the cost could be claimed as a business expense. Other professional fees such as legal fees could also be claimed.
  • Business Travel – If you are required to travel for your business then you are able to claim the cost as a business expense. Contractors can claim mileage of 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles travelled in a financial year and 25p per mile thereafter. This amount covers fuel and any wear and tear on your car. If you take a passenger in the car with you then you are able to claim an extra 5p per mile. If you travel via public transport you are able to claim the cost as an expense as long as you keep the receipt. Toll fees, congestion charges and parking costs are also able to be claimed as expenses.
  • Accommodation – If your business requires you to stay away from your permanent address then the cost could be claimed as an expense. You may also be able to claim for meals and a small amount per day for personal items.
  • Mobile Phone Bill – If you use your phone entirely for business related use then you are able to expense your entire phone bill. However, most contractors will use their phone for both business and personal use and in this case, only the minutes and texts that have been used for business purposes are able to be expensed.
  • Training Courses – If the training course in question is wholly and exclusively for business purposes then the cost could be expensed.
  • Stationery – Branded stationery such as letter heads, envelopes, pens and other items are able to be claimed as expenses if they are used solely for business use.
  • Clothing – As a general rule clothing that could be used as part of your everyday wardrobe such as a business suit or a business dress cannot be claimed as an expense, even if you only use them for work. Clothing that is able to be claimed as a business expense includes branded uniform items and protective work clothing.

What costs cannot be claimed as an expense?

Costs that are not wholly and exclusively for the use of your business are not classed as business expenses. Some common examples of costs that you are not able to claim are most medical treatment costs, client entertainment, childcare, gym membership, parking fines and speeding tickets (even if they are incurred on business trips).

Claiming expenses through a limited company

As a limited company contractor, claiming expenses it is incredibly simple. If you pay for the expense yourself then you will need to complete a bank transfer or write yourself a cheque from your limited company bank account to your personal account. If the expense cost is taken directly from the company bank account then each amount must be recorded so that you can accurately calculate your profits. 

Any expense you claim must follow HMRC's guidelines, which means that all expenses claimed should be wholly and exclusively related to assets which apply to your role or profession.

As a client of Nixon Williams, you have access to Vantage, our bespoke online accounting software which is designed to help you keep track of your expenses. 

Business expenses paid personally

If you incur a business expense and pay for the cost personally you can reimburse the amount from your limited company profits. As a Nixon Williams client, you can simply use the Vantage ‘Expenses’ tab to record the details of each expense you have incurred and submit when you are ready to make a payment from your company to your personal account. Vantage will account for all of the business expenses incurred when calculating the company’s profits.

Business expenses paid directly from your company

If you pay for business expense costs directly from your limited company bank account then each cost needs to be recorded as an expense. As a Nixon Williams client, when adding bank transactions on Vantage ensure that you note which payments are expenses. Vantage will then take account of expenses when calculating the company’s profits.

Certain expenses such as company pension contributions should always be made from the company bank account to avoid any further tax implications.

Recording your expenses

Whether you pay for an expense yourself or from your company bank account, if it is being claimed from the company in some way (and the company is receiving tax relief on the cost) then you must keep proof of purchase.

HMRC requires all expense receipts and invoices to be kept for a minimum of six years. The invoices/receipts should show an itemised breakdown of the purchases and separate the VAT if it is being reclaimed.

Help with your expenses from Nixon Williams

For more information about what expenses you can claim as a contractor and advice about the best way to claim, our new business team is here to help. You can reach the team on 01253 843180 or email newbusiness@nixonwilliams.com.