[Clive McDonald]

Hi fellow window cleaners,
I've heard a lot about this site and how very helpfull you all are. I've just finished my first tax year in window cleaning and was wondering if you could help me.
I'm going to use the actual figures but rounded.
Used Van            £8340
Equipment          £4500
Consumables      £365
Computer            £690
Advertising          £675
Workwear           £255
Public Liability      £138
Stationary           £160
Motoring             £1585
Use of home         £???
Telephone            £???
Income               £18,000

If you could give me some pointers on the above figures, such as what percentages i can claim and the best way of doing things that would be great.Thanking you in anticipation lads.
Cheers

[LWC]

get a accontant, much easier 

in the end they save you money, things that you may not have claimed for

[Dean Aspects]

An accountant will save you more money than they charge and you will be safe in the knowledge that your accounts have been done right

Dean

[Ian Lancaster]

An accountant will save you more money than they charge and you will be safe in the knowledge that your accounts have been done right

Dean

And the tax man prefers it, it makes it easier for him so he's less likely to come bothering you;)

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

An accountant will save you more money than they charge and you will be safe in the knowledge that your accounts have been done right

Dean

totally agree with the above, piece of mind

[john tomkins]

An accountant will save you more money than they charge and you will be safe in the knowledge that your accounts have been done right

Dean

Incorrect...... my prat of an accountant(no longer my accountant) last year filled in my accounts on the previous years tax form 
What a nightmare trying to get the tax office to sort things out , and being charged interest (which couldn't be claimed back) on the amount (supposedly) owed and of course it's my problem not the accountant :

[LWC]

thats not true of all accountants now is it

you had a bad expience

[neil100]

An accountant costs money But you are responsible to the tax man for any mistakes an accountant makes with your Tax return.

If you have an accountant you could still be liable to a tax investigation just as much as the chap who does his own accountants. A computer decides who gets investigated and who does not. The local tax office are told whom to investigate by the computer which is programed to look for certain Anomalies on your tax return, IE your income falls lower then the previous year.

Telephone : Claim 50% of your line rental and phone charges
              Mobilephone 50% of phone contract or vouchers if pay as you go.
             50% for cost of phone. The tax man will accept this as 50% buisness use and 50% personall.

Home: £250 to £300 a year. The Taxman will allow you £5.00 a week if you have a room set aside as an office. If your accountant is claiming more then that and you get investigated they will fine you and charge you intrest on the tax that you should of paid. They then times that figure by 5 as they will apply it to five years of your tax returns without ever looking into any extra years.
          

Your van you are allowed to claim 40% depreceation in the first year and then 25% a year there after.
Van Insurance road tax and dieseal you can claim 100%.

If you have a car you can put that against your tax as well but you have to allow a percentage for personal use.

If its new equipment you can claim 40% again in the first year. But as you have only earned 18k you are better claiming 25% for the first year as it will allow you to claim more against your tax in the following year.

I claim £200 a year Laundery costs. Your dont need a recepit but work clothes and cloths need to be cleaned.The tax man will accept it.

Work clothes are tricky to claim for. A pair of trainers or undies No chance as these can be used for personal use. Gloves, Waterproof jacket and trousers, Waterproof boots, Waterproof hat and T shirts and fleeces with your work logo stiched or printed on them you can claim for.

You need a recepit for everything Other then home and laundery and say £100 for staionery Items like stamps and envelopes.

Regards Neil

[Ian Lancaster]

An accountant will save you more money than they charge and you will be safe in the knowledge that your accounts have been done right

Dean

Incorrect...... my prat of an accountant(no longer my accountant) last year filled in my accounts on the previous years tax form 
What a nightmare trying to get the tax office to sort things out , and being charged interest (which couldn't be claimed back) on the amount (supposedly) owed and of course it's my problem not the accountant :

Also incorrect....like any service provider he has a duty of care - he charges for his services so he has to accept responsibility.  Take him to the small claims court to get compensation for your out-of pocket expenses and damages for his professional incompetence.

[Clive McDonald]

Thanks Neil100 absolutley storming information and very much appreciated. Later today I will fill my form in online.

I was told this forum was good and if you get the right poster to reply  i'd be surprised by just how good the standard  is.

Thank you

[LWC]

you may have thought out replies werent all that helpful, but having a accountant is peace of mind, its simple, write your earnign down, give all your receipts in. easy simple and they will save you money

i only took my accountant on last year, he was taking things into consideration i didnt even know of

[Paul Coleman]

An accountant costs money But you are responsible to the tax man for any mistakes an accountant makes with your Tax return.

If you have an accountant you could still be liable to a tax investigation just as much as the chap who does his own accountants. A computer decides who gets investigated and who does not. The local tax office are told whom to investigate by the computer which is programed to look for certain Anomalies on your tax return, IE your income falls lower then the previous year.

Telephone : Claim 50% of your line rental and phone charges
              Mobilephone 50% of phone contract or vouchers if pay as you go.
             50% for cost of phone. The tax man will accept this as 50% buisness use and 50% personall.

Home: £250 to £300 a year. The Taxman will allow you £5.00 a week if you have a room set aside as an office. If your accountant is claiming more then that and you get investigated they will fine you and charge you intrest on the tax that you should of paid. They then times that figure by 5 as they will apply it to five years of your tax returns without ever looking into any extra years.
          

Your van you are allowed to claim 40% depreceation in the first year and then 25% a year there after.
Van Insurance road tax and dieseal you can claim 100%.

If you have a car you can put that against your tax as well but you have to allow a percentage for personal use.

If its new equipment you can claim 40% again in the first year. But as you have only earned 18k you are better claiming 25% for the first year as it will allow you to claim more against your tax in the following year.

I claim £200 a year Laundery costs. Your dont need a recepit but work clothes and cloths need to be cleaned.The tax man will accept it.

Work clothes are tricky to claim for. A pair of trainers or undies No chance as these can be used for personal use. Gloves, Waterproof jacket and trousers, Waterproof boots, Waterproof hat and T shirts and fleeces with your work logo stiched or printed on them you can claim for.

You need a recepit for everything Other then home and laundery and say £100 for staionery Items like stamps and envelopes.

Regards Neil

Gopod info but I would like to add a couple of bits.
My van is my only vehicle.  I do not offset 100% of it against tax because clearly there will be a need for some private use.  If you have a car too then no problem.
Also, my accountant told me that the percentages are changing on many capital allowances.  Can't recall the details though.

[Moderator David@stives]

Clothing is a dodgy area, as you have to wear clothes wether or not you work.

Contract phones is also another dodgy area , especially where the phone itself was included in the contract.

Both these areas need investigating before you claim.

[john tomkins]

thats not true of all accountants now is it

you had a bad expience

Who said anything about all accountants :

Aspects said

An accountant will save you more money than they charge and you will be safe in the knowledge that your accounts have been done right

I replied that mine did not

[john tomkins]

Also incorrect....like any service provider he has a duty of care - he charges for his services so he has to accept responsibility.  Take him to the small claims court to get compensation for your out-of pocket expenses and damages for his professional incompetence.

Not what I've been told Ian

what neil100 says is what I've been led to believe

But you are responsible to the tax man for any mistakes an accountant makes with your Tax return.

[Paul Coleman]

Also incorrect....like any service provider he has a duty of care - he charges for his services so he has to accept responsibility.  Take him to the small claims court to get compensation for your out-of pocket expenses and damages for his professional incompetence.

Not what I've been told Ian

what neil100 says is what I've been led to believe

But you are responsible to the tax man for any mistakes an accountant makes with your Tax return.

Surely both statements can be correct though.
1) You are responsible to the taxman for any goofs your accountant makes.
2)  You can sue your accountant (as you can any other professional) if he screws up and costs you.
If the accountant has any sense, he/she will have an insurance policy to cover him/her against being sued by a client though.

[L.J.Thorpe]

An accountant costs money But you are responsible to the tax man for any mistakes an accountant makes with your Tax return.

If you have an accountant you could still be liable to a tax investigation just as much as the chap who does his own accountants. A computer decides who gets investigated and who does not. The local tax office are told whom to investigate by the computer which is programed to look for certain Anomalies on your tax return, IE your income falls lower then the previous year.

Telephone : Claim 50% of your line rental and phone charges
              Mobilephone 50% of phone contract or vouchers if pay as you go.
             50% for cost of phone. The tax man will accept this as 50% buisness use and 50% personall.

Home: £250 to £300 a year. The Taxman will allow you £5.00 a week if you have a room set aside as an office. If your accountant is claiming more then that and you get investigated they will fine you and charge you intrest on the tax that you should of paid. They then times that figure by 5 as they will apply it to five years of your tax returns without ever looking into any extra years.
          

Your van you are allowed to claim 40% depreceation in the first year and then 25% a year there after.
Van Insurance road tax and dieseal you can claim 100%.

If you have a car you can put that against your tax as well but you have to allow a percentage for personal use.

If its new equipment you can claim 40% again in the first year. But as you have only earned 18k you are better claiming 25% for the first year as it will allow you to claim more against your tax in the following year.

I claim £200 a year Laundery costs. Your dont need a recepit but work clothes and cloths need to be cleaned.The tax man will accept it.

Work clothes are tricky to claim for. A pair of trainers or undies No chance as these can be used for personal use. Gloves, Waterproof jacket and trousers, Waterproof boots, Waterproof hat and T shirts and fleeces with your work logo stiched or printed on them you can claim for.

You need a recepit for everything Other then home and laundery and say £100 for staionery Items like stamps and envelopes.

Regards Neil

everything neil said is right BUT it is 50% on vans and new equip in first year then 25% there after,next year you can claim 100% of that back in first year (right nwh )

[macmac]

An accountant costs money But you are responsible to the tax man for any mistakes an accountant makes with your Tax return.

If you have an accountant you could still be liable to a tax investigation just as much as the chap who does his own accountants. A computer decides who gets investigated and who does not. The local tax office are told whom to investigate by the computer which is programed to look for certain Anomalies on your tax return, IE your income falls lower then the previous year.

Telephone : Claim 50% of your line rental and phone charges
              Mobilephone 50% of phone contract or vouchers if pay as you go.
             50% for cost of phone. The tax man will accept this as 50% buisness use and 50% personall.

Home: £250 to £300 a year. The Taxman will allow you £5.00 a week if you have a room set aside as an office. If your accountant is claiming more then that and you get investigated they will fine you and charge you intrest on the tax that you should of paid. They then times that figure by 5 as they will apply it to five years of your tax returns without ever looking into any extra years.
          

Your van you are allowed to claim 40% depreceation in the first year and then 25% a year there after.
Van Insurance road tax and dieseal you can claim 100%.

If you have a car you can put that against your tax as well but you have to allow a percentage for personal use.

If its new equipment you can claim 40% again in the first year. But as you have only earned 18k you are better claiming 25% for the first year as it will allow you to claim more against your tax in the following year.

I claim £200 a year Laundery costs. Your dont need a recepit but work clothes and cloths need to be cleaned.The tax man will accept it.

Work clothes are tricky to claim for. A pair of trainers or undies No chance as these can be used for personal use. Gloves, Waterproof jacket and trousers, Waterproof boots, Waterproof hat and T shirts and fleeces with your work logo stiched or printed on them you can claim for.

You need a recepit for everything Other then home and laundery and say £100 for staionery Items like stamps and envelopes.

Regards Neil

Pretty much spot on, very sensible post.

Tony

[Clive McDonald]

What I wondered is would you all be interested in seeing it all worked through on the figures I have given?

Before you fill the boxes in on the tax return such as expense's and capital allowances and motoring these have to be figured by prior or seperate calculation, and this is what I am talking about.

Some like Neil100 already know(I'm using his info), but maybe others don't and that's why they don't have the confidence to do their own returns. If anyone thinks they spot an error they can say. If anyone thinks, I could do that for myself too, then that's a good thing surely.

I haven't done it yet but if you want me to I will put it up. There isn't any personal information there that can get me into trouble.

[DASERVICES]

Don't claim use of home if you are on a mortgage, otherwise the taxman will see it as an asset and when you go to sell your house they will claim a percentage.