Machines | Simpler Income Tax Cash Basis and Simplified Expenses

Simpler Income Tax Cash Basis and Simplified Expenses - Income and expenses under cash basis Income With cash basis you only count the money you’ve actually received in a tax year. Any money you’re owed isn’t counted until you receive it. All payments count - cash, card, cheque, payment in kind or any other method. You can choose how you record when money is received or paid (eg the date the money enters or leaves your account or the date a cheque is written) but you must use the same method each tax year. Expenses Expenses are business costs you can deduct from your income to calculate your taxable profit. In practice, this means your allowable expenses reduce your Income Tax. You only count the expenses you’ve actually paid. Money you owe isn’t counted until you pay it. Examples of allowable business expenses if you’re using cash basis are: day to day running costs, eg electricity, fuel admin costs, eg stationery things you buy to sell on, eg stock things you use in your business, eg machinery, computers, vans interest and charges up to £500, eg interest on bank overdrafts For the 2013 to 2014 tax year you can also choose to use the simplified expenses scheme instead of calculating expenses for use of: vehicles working from home making adjustments for living on your business premises There are some types of expenses that you can’t claim, eg anything that’s not used by your business. Cars and other equipment If you buy a car for your business, you can claim the purchase as a capital allowance (but only if you’re not using simplified expenses to work out your business expenses for that vehicle). Unlike traditional accounting, you claim other equipment you buy to keep and use in your business as a normal allowable business expense rather than as a capital allowance. If you’re currently claiming capital allowances and want to switch to cash basis, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have guidance on the changes you need to make. https://www.gov.uk/simpler-income-tax-cash-basis/income-and-expenses-under-cash-basis http://callietimothy.com/