We've had Plastic Boobs as a deductible expense ...

We've had Plastic [***] as a deductible expense...

Didn't find your answer?

...so I'm curious as to what other audacious/bizarre/stretching a point/tenuous claims you have seen in accounts - and more importantly did the client get away with it?

Chancer
Don't listen to a word I say.
Chancer

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By User deleted
10th Aug 2004 10:59

The Revenue response
I used to handle Petra, an 'exotic dancer' (aka a stripper) whose accounts were enquired into by the Revenue. Most dancers/entertainers try and claim underwear etc and usually get knocked back, but in Petra's case we were able to justify the large expenditure on account of the fact that the knickers were disposed of during the performance - hence the large volume of purchases.

More entertainingly the Revenue queried her low level of profits as against lifestyle and she informed us that she was regularly helped by 'gifts from boyfriends'.

I think at this stage the Inspector just chickened out of trying to stage a meeting with someone where she had to start asking questions about how many boyfriends Petra had had and wheher the gifts she had received were by the hour. We just agreed a small amount of added back undisclosed fees and the Revenue retired - still blushing I think.

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By User deleted
10th Aug 2004 11:24

Dog Food
Our client, a private detective claimed for his shabby mac' and dog food. On querying this, his explanation was that when following someone and being unobtrusive, especially in a park, what better than an older man in a copious mac' (which hid the camera) and four charming daschunds! He was very successful and the claim was allowed.

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By The Minion
06th Aug 2004 17:01

Just remembered
Used to work for a firm who had an entertainer as a client who kept his stuff in the back of an estate car while he was in teh club or wherever.

WE used to claim for a black cloth that went over the stuff in the back of the estate car.

The idea was that the black cloth would hide everything when it was dark.

The additional claim, accepted, was the cost of keeping the black rottweiler that used to sleep on the black cloth in the back.

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By JSJ54
06th Aug 2004 22:47

I just remembered that many years ago we acted
for a female taxi driver & part-time stripper and she was allowed the cost of feeding her pet snake.

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By pgittins
09th Aug 2004 09:51

Cigars ....
When I started my training contract, in the early 80's, we had a Tax client who had an extremely high-profile TV role .... he claimed (and, as far as I recall, received relief) for his cigars, on the grounds that they were part of his television persona, and so when he appeared in public people expected him to smoke one .....

He also got a part in a West End musical, and included a new hi-fi system in his expenses, claiming that he needed it to learn his singing part .....

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By JSJ54
06th Aug 2004 12:19

Chest wax
for female impersonator

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By ACDWebb
09th Aug 2004 14:10

Cigars continued
When I first started in tax with the IR I had amongst my "customenrs" - well taxpayers then - an aging comedian/actor who certainly did claim, and was allowed, the cost of his cigars as one of his "trademarks".

Possibly the same person, but it was a LONG time ago now

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By The Minion
06th Aug 2004 12:55

Hearing aid ..
for client who attended auctions

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By rdennys
06th Aug 2004 10:37

Lapdancing for Stag Weekend company
I have a travel business that specialises in hen and stag weekends.

my accountant and I spent an enjoyable discussion over whether the entry to the lapdance club was deductable, as legitimate business research.

In the event we get free entry as we send about 5,000 people to this place over a year. (But is that a benefit in kind?)

Is there a difference of tax treatment between entry to the lapdance club and actually paying for a dance itself. In practice its a tough one to even try and claim, as its very rare to get a receipt from a lapdancer (male or female) - allegedly!

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By AnonymousUser
06th Aug 2004 14:41

Expense claims......
From a Japanese ex-pat running the firm's foray into the UK - credit card receipts with DINNER written diagonally across, but the actual lines filled in at the shop (in the days when we used pens in shops) included:
antique violin
riding boots
red dress
various items of furniture.

As the ex-pat was under suspicion for misusing his expenses account, he got into trouble with his employer long before the Revenue got to see anything. As I recall he was most upset that the disallowed expenses were grossed up for the purposes of his contract. He was also upset that a woman was saying no!

Not one of the most pleasant meetings ever.

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By AnonymousUser
06th Aug 2004 13:45

Lorry driving Gary Glitter Impersonator
Many years ago whilst in practice I had a client who Monday to Friday was self-employed as a lorry driver hauling building materials for construction companies but on Friday & Saturday nights he had a residency at a social club doing Gary Glitter impersonations. His books were always great fun i.e.

Diesel
Road tax
Eyeliner
Spare parts
Wigs etc!

Funny thing was his haulage side of the business was always making a loss whilst the Gary Glitter side was making good money!

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Richard Murphy
By Richard Murphy
06th Aug 2004 13:34

The company tie
I had a firm of graphic designers once who claimed every few months for a new "company tie". This didn't have a logo on it - it just hung on a hook behind the door and was put on when someone needed to go to the sort of meeting that required one.

I can't recall allowing it. Whilst there appeared no personal benefit and it hardly came within the Mallilieu rules - it wasn't for either warmth or decency, nor did it seem necessary business expenditure. But it was an amusing claim, but hardly worth the effort of submitting.

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By John Savage
06th Aug 2004 13:12

"For the cows"
More years ago than I care to remember, and in my previous life as a VATman, I visited a farmer and discovered input VAT being claimed on purchases of wine.

When tackled about it, his reply was "For the cows, boy".

On another visit I did come across someone claiming input VAT on his dental bills. The hoot was that the net amount was also being put into the "Repairs & Maintenance" column of his cashbook!!

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By 1228330
06th Aug 2004 14:34

Allowed and not-allowed
Allowed by the Inland Revenue after a fight: flying lessons for a company director, whose work took him all over the country.

Not-allowed: in a Tesco bag containing a Woolworths notebook for kids (with the thick rough paper, remember them?). The notebook was the cash book, and amidst a heap of invoices,I found one for a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost (the real thing, not a dinkie toy).

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By User deleted
06th Aug 2004 09:41

Truth is stranger than fiction
Claimed and allowed:-Upside down bifocals for a professional violinist, with the "distance " part at the top and small just to see the conductor.[snooker players please note].

Claimed and refused:-
False teeth for a professional food taster for a well known guide.

Spectacles for a market trader so that he could see his products.

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By Chris Smail
06th Aug 2004 12:22

Several - not odd but amusing at the time.
First ever job (30 years ago) Scotch as 'Cleaning Fluid'

Recently 'Escort services' in travel on the Isle of Wight!

But most amusing ‘services’ in an Amsterdam club put through on his credit card by a trader on a trip, but his wife did the books….

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