To business expense a handbag

[CrotchBurn]

I am self employed (think graphic designer) and am getting a bit embarrassed of carting around a raggedy rucksack when I go to work spaces and occasionally when I see clients.

I've seen a really nice handbag, theres also a laptop sleeve that goes with it (I mean a matching laptop sleeve but sold separately).

Would I be unreasonable to business expense it? I feel torn because it's kind of me as well as for work stuff

A nice briefcase would probably be OK. I don't like laptoy satchels but I am rather traditional.

I remember once giving people leather wallets, and they were not taxable if they had the company logo on them. I have a few logo'd shirts and fleeces.

If you are ever suspected of having an elastic attitude to tax-deductible expenses, your life can be made a misery by enquiries and investigations (even if you have behaved perfectly properly) and your accountant will be peeved at the extra work and reputational damage.

As ever, an expert who knows what they’re talking about because it’s their actual job posts, as still some people disagree or say “well I believe this”

In this particular case the experts say you can’t, it’s actually not legal, but that doesn’t stop the posters who know better.

Shocked but not surprised ffs

How much is it, OP?

@pigletjohn - yes - I used to work for a large company & gifts were allowed if they had a logo ( because they were not generally considered something people would use in day to day life ) Even so I had a client who could not accept even those & they had to be put into a pot & distributed equally amongst all employees )

I agree with you @pigletjohn - my acquaintance does have an "elastic attitude" - but - for the times he gets away with it - well - his choice - I do agree with you that if ever picked up - not worth the hassle or investigations.

I always think there are two bodies you don't want to get on the wrong side of - 1) those who grant planning permission or building regs and 2) HMRC

But - just me

You can put anything you like through the business accounts if it is your business. However, when it comes to calculating your expenses to deduct from your income and calculate your net profit for taxation, you wouldn't be able to include something like a handbag in your allowable expenses.

I used to work in a relatively menial role at an accountancy practice, and my sole job was to go through the paperwork of high net-worth - and sometimes quite well-known - individuals and deduct all the disallowable items from their expenses. A handbag would have been allowable if they were a comedian and used it as a prop in their stage act (eg Dame Edna), or perhaps a designer outfit worn by a celebrity presenting the awards at a televised ceremony (but only then if it was used specifically for that event).

You'd be surprised what you can claim for actually

I'm terrified of a spot check by HMRC so I don't claim as much as I probably could do. Even though Rhisi Sunak thinks we're all fraudulant tax evaders who don't deserve any COVID help. (yes, I am very bitter about that. )

[quote CrotchBurn]@WorraLiberty
I dont see how its CF. It's my money![/quote]
Not all of it is. It's fraud and you are defrauding the tax payer. Yeah, it would probably only be a few quid that you'll save in tax but if everyone did that, how are we going to fund the NHS, education etc. You are being ridiculous, get over yourself.