Help with travel expenses

[browneyesblue]

I am self-employed, and a client has invited me to their Christmas drinks. I'd quite like to go, as I like the company and get on with the folks there, but does anyone know whether I'll be able to claim travel expenses?

No, I wouldn't. I'm a freelancer half the week, and a client the other half, so I know both sides. I think it would be really odd to bill for travel expenses to a social event.

Sorry, I meant claim travel expenses as a deduction on my tax return, not bill the client. I wasn't very clear.

I'm not sure if it's allowed or not though.

Shady, I think. Not really work related, even if it is a client.

I don't think I would.

Oh well - it was worth asking.

Thanks for the advice :)

You absolutely can claim travel exp on your tax return. I am surprised you are even asking that. Claim all travel that is related to your work, which networking most definitely is.

For going to a party? That's not a work event, IMHO. Or even a networking event.

But I am not an accountant.

I wouldn't claim it.

Christmas drinks with a client is certainly networking, I claim that kind of thing (bookkeeper).

A mixed response. Maybe I'll just see if I can book some work in earlier in the day, to be on the safe side.

But I am not an accountant.

Probably best not to answer a question that only an accountant (or tax consultant) would know the answer to then

Travel to attend a meeting or an event with a client, or potential client, is deductible unless (i) you are providing (paying for) entertainment for the client, in which case the travel cost is treated as part of the entertainment cost and therefore not deductible or (ii) you also have a non-business relationship with the client and you are attending the meeting or event in that capacity.

Note also as a self employed person you are subject to the ridiculous rule that the business purpose must be the only purpose of the journey in order to claim it. So if you claim to fly to Edinburgh to go to a key client's Christmas party you can claim it unless you are so familiar with the client that you sleep with them while you are there! An employee on the other hand can claim this expense.

Nowhere near that familiar! Very interesting though, thank you.

Although I've met all my clients in person at least once, that majority of the work that I do is online, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to put a face with the name/voice at the other end of the phone. They are my largest, and most reliable, clients.

I am definitely not providing entertainment for them, and can only really justify the travel expense if I can claim it later. I just didn't want to do anything dodgy.

Thanks again