Hotel Bills

[wingingitwithkids]

Husband has been very odd about his phone and security of it over the last few years to the point that he wrestled it out of my hands once. He has been very grumpy to us all. He used to leave it out, years ago now it has fingerprint all sorts galore functions. I've been too busy with the children and work to deal with it all. I was in our office, sorting out paperwork and came across a hotel bill for when he was last working away. Everything was fine apart from the number of guests - which said 2. He was staying alone. I am sure this is a genuine mistake by the hotel, is there any way I could find out? I have invoice number etc? Don't want to be paranoid. But he may have to go away for the next few weeks again and suddenly he was all nice when he was telling me. Am I overreacting?

If he usually pays himself dividends it's not unlikely that he will have had a higher tax bill in January due to changes in divi tax - I would however expect a decent accountant to have forewarned him of this.

Coupled with everything else and the lack of transparency it is concerning I think.

Re PAYE, without knowing how organised your DH or his accountant are it's hard to say for sure, but the deadline doesn't move from year to year, accountants are on this and live by that deadline. I'd also expect your DH to be working late in his office at home trying to tie up loose ends before the deadline (every HMRC deadline = stress around here, with our own business).
But taking a step back OP, it sounds like there are more fundamental trust issues at play here. The details don't appear to stack up, but then again they might. You are looking for evidence that your lack of trust has foundation. It's totally fine for you to do this, but it sounds like you need to very calmly (easier said than done, I know) watch and wait.

Thanks ladies. Such a mess. X

I stayed in a hotel for work last week and just checked the paperwork. It said guests: 2 but I was definitely alone! It was a de vere hotel if that helps?

Thanks it’s just the hotel are adamant is was two guests in that occasion. Who knows. X

I always book a double room and state 2 people even if I'm staying alone. I just don't want to get a smaller room just because I'm alone. I have passwords and pins on everything too. I'm not having an affair. That being said, wrestling the phone would raise alarm bells for me.

I’m happy to call and ask how many guests stayed for my booking?

Thanks we’ve phoned and I’m going to phone tmw and check in different member of staff to be sure. I get that you may book for two but he has an other invoice for same hotel just for one guest. Also he has to put though as expense so doubt he would want two guests down. Either admin error or he’s hiding something. I really need to see th business accounts and expense receipts - can I phone the accountant and ask? I’m not listed on the business so guess that’s a no. X

Op, my DH runs a limited company, with his accountant doing most of financial work.

I dont generally have or need access to his business accounts but I do know who the accountant is, and who he banks with, and he would show me bank statements if I asked. Its called being sensible, as you say, if anything happens to him, you need to at least be able to contact the accountant to wind the business up.

As for tax form, well my DH generally does his own, but is aware of what extra tax he may need to pay - as a pp said, accountants are on top of this, so he is usually told the exact figures to put on his tax form by his accountant. In fact he is often contacted earlier in the year, if near a change in tax threshold, and the accountant suggests more goes into pension, or less dividends etc.

This year the accountant did tax forms for both of us as we had some CGT to pay. I've never done one before as I am employed and on PAYE. He told both of us ahead of time how much tax we would owe based on our earnings and the CGT calcs.

So, either your DH has a crap accountant - or none at all. I do wonder why he wont even tell you their name? What is he hiding there?

I really need to see th business accounts and expense receipts - can I phone the accountant

My DH keeps his own receipts on an ongoing basis, only sending them to accountant with his annual accounts. He has monthly folders for expenses receipts, and every so often calculates what we are owed and does a transfer.

You need to find out where your DH keeps his ongoing receipts, as presumably there will also be meal receipts? I think that regardless of what he says about being stressed, you need more transparency. Why is he so secretive? Could it be so that you wouldn't know his business income if you decided to split?

We have total transparency here, including joint accounts and access to each others online credit card accounts.

I totally agree. The financial thing is bothering me. The hotel thing I can try and get to the bottom of tmw. I just can’t believe an accountant wouldn’t forwarn? OH won’t listen to me when I say the accountant should have let him know. Even more the reason to be involved to ensure payments and dates don’t get missed I would have thought. I’m not a paranoid person or jealous and would have no interest in hubbies phone at all usually but I really think I should have an overall idea of the business and given the situation, technology has a lot to answer for. X

He is fobbing you off, I have nothing to do with my husbands business, but am named on all accounts and know all tax details, if anything, god forbid , happened to him I could access everything

If you know the business name look it up on companies house - you can get the accounts, directors details, dividends etc from there.

Little Owl - Can I get detailed expenses as well on there? Or is that a case of if bn too trusting and have missed him posting receipts to the accountant?! Apparently he has everything set up for me if anything happens?! Trouble is I wouldn’t have a clue who to bloody contact.