CM CLUB Tryingto do my accounts ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[OFSTEDoutstanding]

Please help I am trying to submitmy first years of accounts and like a fool decided to do them myself and not use an accountant like I did when I was a se nanny. I know about heating, lighting, mileage, council tax, water rates equipment and food etc but was wondering will I get away with putting through the following.....
Window cleaner
cleaning products
washing powder
lenor
toilet roll
kitchen roll
Cooking ingredients for them to make cakes etc
also I claim £2 per child per day for food but can I put through juice?
Please help as would love to be able to stay under tax threshold

I think cleaning products would be OK if you have documented that these are for your work activities and not just your household stock.

if you rent you can claim 10% of your rent amount

not sure about the window cleaner but the rest are definite yes.

Cleaning products - you need a clean environment for the children and they make lots of messes to clean. don't forget cleaning stuff for car too
Washing powder - even if you don't wash nappies or mindee's clothes you do need to wash cot bedding, dressing up clothes & doll's clothes, aprons, flannels & towels etc.
toilet roll - we used 1 roll in 1 day last week (I've found the culprit, we've had words!)
cooking ingredients, yes and anything else you buy for planned activities.
Juice - I claim this, although we do drink a lot of plain water too.

Anything you buy that is used for childminding as well as household stuff you need to EITHER claim a percentage (eg 50%) of all purchases or buy separately (eg you might have Fairy non bio for washing kids bedding and Persil for own clothes).

Don't forget all your stationery & stamps, craft items, handwashing soap, anti bac spray, cloths & wipes, gifts & cards for mindee's birthdays & xmas/easter eggs (if you bought these), toys & batteries/charger, toy library/toddler group etc membership & admission fees, toy/dvd rental, library overdue fines, advertising costs, business phone calls (get itemised bill).
Basically claim for ANYTHING you wouldn't have bought if you weren't childminding
40p per mile for any journey taking mindees out or for training courses or to shop for childminding supplies.

dont think you can put the window cleaner through as he does your whole house, and you dont just get your windows cleaned for work.
telephone bill (% of it)
bibs and bobs add up (ice cream money etc)
toddler groups
internet
washing powder? lenor? do you wash the childrens clothes?
dont forget when you add it up to take away your wear and tear %

Can I just argue a point (nicely of course )........I'm thinking about getting a window cleaner PURELY because I now have a conservatory as a playroom and I feel the windows need to be clean as it's a business and dirty windows would be a put off imo. If I get one, can't I put some of it through on accounts? I deffo wouldn't be getting one if I wasn't childminding.

Thats exactly the same as me looneytune. I use my conservatory as the computer/ homework room and need a cleaner because their finger marks get all over it. I never had awindow cleaner before I minded but when I started I felt I had to have clean windows as parents collecting from my home might think other parts of my house were dirty if the windows were covered in finger marks. Would love to hear what you all think

well work out how much the window cleaner is and decide a % to put towards your books a bit like i do with the internet i claim 40% back as i use the internet more for personal use than business

Ok excellent didn't realise that we could claim back some internet. Wonder if every time we come on MN we can class it as 'research' in that case I only ever come online for business

I claim for the whole of my downstairs as the downstairs is used for minding. So half od my window clwaning monthly bill is £6 which adds up over the year.

offy have you any chilren of your own, if not EVERYTHING you use for the children can be put through, plus certain other things, i claimed for carpets to be cleaned twicwe a year, and eventually for a carpet cleaner instead. I claim for my car to be valeted once a quarter, if you search mn there is a list of things we claim for

short list of under 10.00 things

Pencils
Chalk
Paper
Paint
Glue
Bird Food
Fish Food
Paint Brushes
Sellotape
Blue tack
Sticky Back Plastic
Print Sponges
Stencils
Puzzles
Scissors
Card
Coloring Books
Staples
Bibs
Flannels
Seeds
Seed Pots
Soil
Balls
Hats
Gloves
Aprons
Tapes
Cups
Paper Plates
Wrapping Paper
Birthday Cards
Cars
Poster
Dress Up Shoes
Dress Up Tiaras
Bobbles
Felt Tips
Foam Paper
Felt
Tracing Paper
Play dough
Balloons
Glitter
Sequins
Material Scraps
Ribbon
Pompoms
Paper Cups
Pipe Cleaners
Straws
Tissue Paper
Rubbers
Pencils Sharpeners
Rulers
Stanley Knife
String
Stickers
Felt Drawings
Sweets
Batteries

Dont forget PC uttilities I claim for evry second Ink and paper.

I claim for most of the things mention (seem to forget wash powder/cleaning/toiletries generally). Was shocked at my expenses when I did my tax return! Almost half of my income went on expenses!!! Mind you am very thorough with my expenses!

Kay are you like me a 'creative accountant'

That's write shosh!

I mean right of course