Lost petrol receipts

[amandajoe07]

Hi,

I lost all my petrol receipts from my previous car as they were all stored in the ashtray for safe keeping.

I made a couple of long distance journeys including to Leeds for an arms fair, plus Birmingham and Harrogate for face to face deals. These are provable journeys as I have invoices from the dealers involved but I havnt claimed the mileage as I didnt want to get into trouble.

My question is, could I claim for these journeys and add a note explaining, or am I best just leaving these as I have done and not claiming? I worked it out and there's a fair amount involved!

Also I file every petrol recipt even though only a proportion is for business. Is this correct or do I just include the relevant receipt with the mileage claim?

Many thanks,

Joe

 

[Chunkford]

Could you not do the 40p mileage allowance?
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/paye/exb/a-z/m/mileage-expenses.htm

 

[amandajoe07]

Thanks for the link. I believe that is for employees of businesses (PAYE).

I have started trading mid April this year, as a sole trader so I think it would be 45p now.

Just wondering if they will make an exception for 3 provable journeys without receipts or if I should just forget about them? I almost always pay for fuel on my card so there is some traceability.

Do I just claim for business mileage but include all receipts?

Many thanks,

Joe

 

[SuffolkDesigns]

You can claim 40p mileage as an expense as long as you are not putting other car expenses (purchase, servicing, repairs etc) through the books.

 

[amandajoe07]

You can claim 40p mileage as an expense as long as you are not putting other car expenses (purchase, servicing, repairs etc) through the books.

Thanks, what about the lack of recipts for the earlier journeys?

Many thanks,

Joe

 

[Scalloway]

You can claim 40p mileage as an expense as long as you are not putting other car expenses (purchase, servicing, repairs etc) through the books.

The rate is now 45p per mile. You can only use this method if your turnover is less thab £77,000 per annum

 

[Scalloway]

Thanks, what about the lack of recipts for the earlier journeys?

Many thanks,

Joe

Did you pay for the fuel by card? If so the expense will appear on your bank statmement.

 

[amandajoe07]

I thought it as 45p ;-)

Yes I almost always pay for fuel by debit card! Mixed on personal and business accounts though so could confuse!

I am going to be able to keep my finances separate within about 4 weeks but it's making it a bookkeeping headache at the moment!

I was hoping as I did it was traceable!

Many thanks,

Joe

 

[paulears]

If you can prove the expense by means of the bank statement - which will tally with your other documents, the expense is genuine. The only thing would be the lack of a VAT receipt if you needed to account for VAT.

My accountant doesn't have an issue with the occasional proof of expenditure when it's clear and obvious. A bank statement entry showing Texaco Luton and a date would not be queried. when I was inspected by HMRC a few years ago - they seemed to actually quite like statements where things were highlighted and marked business with a note explaining what it was

 

[amandajoe07]

Just what I wanted to hear, thanks!

Incidentally I highlight my bank statements with notes too, same with PayPal statements! It just feels like the 'right' thing to do ;-)

Many thanks,

Joe