Ahead of the 31 January tax deadline, HMRC has released its a list of the most ridiculous expenses that customers tried to claim back on their 2014-15 Self Assessment returns.
All of the claims below were rejected, and HMRC hopes that by making this list public it may stop people trying to get one over on the tax inspector this year.
Ruth Owen, HMRC Director General of Customer Services, said:
“Year after year we receive a number of ludicrous expense claims, ranging from international holiday flights to expensive designer clothing, which we would never uphold. Why should the honest taxpayer pick up the bill for others? HMRC will only accept those claims which are genuine, such as legitimate travel expenses or the cost of tools for the job.
“The seven day countdown to the 31 January Self Assessment deadline is now on. Don’t delay and risk a penalty, the time to submit your tax return is now.”
10 most ridiculous expenses claims in 2014/15
- Holiday flights to the Caribbean
- Luxury watches as Christmas gifts for staff – from a company with no employees
- International flights for dental treatment ahead of business meetings
- Pet food for a Shih Tzu ‘guard dog’
- Armani jeans as protective clothing for painter and decorator
- Cost of regular Friday night ‘bonding sessions’ – running into thousands of pounds.
- Underwear – for personal use
- A garden shed for private use – plus the costs of the space it takes up in the garden
- Betting slips
- Caravan rental for the Easter weekend.
