Can I buy an iPad now to reclaim paid tax?

[markbigears]

Morning all,

So the wife usually sorts the tax return out, I sort the cars! I know, I should have taken more of an interest, pardon the pun.

Just a bit of background, both of us are PAYE and we also have a buy to let that ticks along.
So this year after the accounts were submitted, instead of the usual tax amount we usually pay, it went up by a factor of 5.
I had a chat with the accountant and asked her why the amount had risen so much.
Apparently its because of the "High Income Child Benefit Charge", government getting the child benefit back.
I then asked her about what expenses she had put through compared to recent years and she remarked that the previous return we had
submitted a receipt for a laptop, amongst others, which got me thinking.

So my question is, If I buy an iPad now, can I offset this against the recent tax return? (I paid HMRC it a few weeks ago)
if so, what % can I ge back and how do I do it?

Many thanks guys

[Mr Pointy]

Is the iPad demonstably neccessary for your BTL business? And no, I don't think you can buy in this tax year & assign it to 2022/23.

[CharlesElliott]

If you start buying things like this and claiming them as expenses, you are highly likely to see more interest from HMRC. Claiming an iPad (or a laptop) is wholely and solely necessary for the buy to let is going to be difficult.

[oldaudi]

This just sounds like you’re spending a minimum of £400 on an iPad to claim back a smaller amount in tax

[jonwm]

I asked an accountant similar about the volunteering work I do (school governor and secretary of kids football club) I was told that unless the tablet was specifically for either governor or football club then I couldn't and even if I did it would be a grey area so don't bother, I would say my laptop is used for 99% of the voluntary work I do and a tablet would have just been a bit easier.

[markbigears]

Many thanks all, I thought I was missing a trick. I'll just leave it to the wife and clean the car

[Eric Mc]

If you want to offset expenditure against employment income, the expenditure has to have been incurred “wholly, exclusively and necessarily “ for the purposes of the employment. If you chose to buy something it won’t be allowed as it was a choice purchase, not a necessity one. Regarding rental income, expenditure incurred for the maintenance, upkeep and admin of the property is allowable. However, a lap top would be looked on as a capital cost and would only be eligible for Capital Allowances.