Out of Home Expenses

[Ail Puant]

When I was using an umbrella/management company I was allowed, encouraged even to claim out of home expenses of £8 per day for anything over 8 hours and £15 per day if I was out of home for ten hours or more. Alternatively I could claim £20 per night if I stopped overnight anywhere (plus my hotel bill etc).
None of this was receipted.
Last year I took over running my company properly and took on a member of staff. I continued with the out of home scheme exactly as before. I have now been told by my accountants (a couple of weeks before the corporation tax etc is due) that I cannot claim these expenses without receipts.

So my question to the TAX experts (Eric!!!) is why not and how come the umbrella company was able to do this?

Thanks

[mas99]

Brollies are infamous for being misleading about expenses and dispensations.

There is a document on the IR web site that clarifies all this stuff (the allowances for being away from home etc). If I can find the link in my favourites I'll post it up.

It gets covered regularly on cuk & pcg.