Dogs

Dogs

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I know that VAT can be reclaimed & expense offset for Inc Tax where a dog is bought, "for the purose" of guard dog duties.

Does anyone have experience of successfully claiming where the dog is guarding the office at home?
Malcolm Veall

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By John Savage
09th Aug 2005 17:55

Guard dog for an author
James' tale reminded me of a funny case I had once, many years ago in my previous life as a VATman (until I also saw the light!!!)

I was checking the books of a well known local author (oddly enough, Cornish as well, we must all be crooked in this locality) and there were the claims for his two dogs, described as guard dogs (and argued that because he was a well known author he had to protect his pivacy). Was going through the similar arguments such as posted on this thread, when providence leapt to my assistance in the form of the Sunday Telegraph.

The week following my visit , included in the Sunday Telegraph colour supplement, was a four page article on this particular author, complete with several colour photographs of him in the garden with his dogs - described as being his pets, not his guard dogs. Needless to say, it scuppered his claim somewhat! Bit of a [***] really!!!

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By dicklloyd
09th Aug 2005 21:14

Don't believe what you read in the papers
So even the VAT man believes what he reads in the papers. Dangerous!!

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By jamesbailey
10th Aug 2005 14:07

VAT - free dog food
Since we seem to have done the direct tax side of this to death, I am glad to see we have moved on to VAT planning for canines.

Greyhound food is probably a bit high-octane for a cocker spaniel or a German Shepherd - it isn't good to feed very high protein food to dogs that do not need it - and you can get other dog food which is VAT-free. Such food is described as being for "working dogs" by the manufacturers.

We feed our gundogs on "Omega Maintenance" which is produced for working sheepdogs (at least, there is a picture of a Border Collie on the sack). This is VAT-free as well, and at about £7 for a 15 kilo sack, I would bet it's cheaper than the greyhound food!

And no, I do not claim a deduction for my dogs as a practice expense!

James Bailey
Chartered Tax Adviser (and amateur gundog trainer).

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By jamesbailey
09th Aug 2005 11:30

Private use of Guard Dog
Before I saw the light, I used to be an Inspector of Taxes, and one of my older colleagues was described to me as the "sort of pedant who tries to get add-backs for private use of the guard dog".

After joining the profession, I also recall a splendid Cornish farmer client, a keen shooting man, who had a couple of Labrador Retrievers on his books as "sheepdogs".

When I was a child, my Father had a pub, and we had a Boxer dog as our "guard dog". On the one occasion we were burgled, the dog was lying in his bed in the bar, with the wrapper of the chocolate bar the crooks had given him as the price of his silence.

Which all goes to show that you can get a deduction for a real guard dog if you feel you need one, but beware of trying to promote the family pet to this role!

James Bailey
Chartered Tax Adviser
[email protected]

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By User deleted
09th Aug 2005 12:15

Is the dog really a guard dog?
If the office is at home where the dog lives, I think it will be difficult to prove his sole purpose is for guarding duties. Has he been professionally trained? I have worked on the tax affairs of a company which produced guard dogs and believe me these things are far too vicious to be let loose around the house - and I say that having had dogs myself all my life.

If the dog can be patted without protective clothing I think this is ultimately a losing claim - if you decide to make a claim I would be very careful to disclose it fully to protect yourself against discovery assessments later.

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By deanshepherd
07th Aug 2005 17:25


Almost...


I have experience of unsuccessfully claiming 'guard dog' expenses for the family mutt if that helps!

Duality of purpose is hard to disprove - especially if the dog brings you your slippers in the morning!


Dean



Free Online Helpdesk from MMI, the Surrey Accountants.

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By deanshepherd
16th Aug 2005 16:57


To James..

..but surely you have registered your gundog training as a seperate trade and are now setting those losses against your practice income?

Hmm.. to what business use can I put my kittens I wonder!

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By jamesbailey
16th Aug 2005 17:13

Gundog training
Dear Dean

Unfortunately, a trade requires paying customers, and if you had met my gundogs you would certainly not pay me to train yours!

Judging by the contents of the greeting card racks in my local newsagent, may I suggest photographic modelling as the best career choice for your kittens?

Kind regards

James Bailey

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