Can I claim back tax relief on my bus pass tickets?

Validis · Sep 17, 2011

I'm currently a self employed electricians mate. I'm going through an agency, but have been working at the same site since april, and it seems as though it will last untill next summer.

I use a bus to get to and from site and i have saved all my bus pass tickets, since i started working at that site.

However, was just reading HMRC, and saw that it said:

'But business journeys don't include:

ordinary commuting - when you travel between your home (or anywhere that is not a workplace) and a place which counts as a permanent workplace'

Does working at my current site count as a permanent workplace? I'm not sure it does, seeing as i could potentially be at another site at any time. But wondering whether HMRC will count it as a permanent workplace due to the length of time.

And just another quickie. My bus pass costs £22 per week. just out of curiosity, if i can claim back on these, how much will I benefit from them, in terms of money?

Thanks

trev · Sep 17, 2011

If you're working through an umbrella company eg Gabem your address is your office and therefore your actual place of work. The journey to and from site is a business journey and allowable for deduction.
What the implications are for your exact situation I can't say, give your accountant a call mate he is more of a tax expert than me

the info I've given is from my own experience of having an umbrella company. Hope it helped a bit

telectrix · Sep 17, 2011

if you are self employed, firstly, your spare room is your office. that is your permanent place of work. you claim a % of your gas/electric/rates/rent as legitimate business expenses. you pay your wife/girlfriend/partner a small wage to answer the phone, do your paperwork etc. claim for all that. OH, and the £22 a week travelling expense from your office to site/s.