HELP !!!!!!!!! Income Tax deductions for legal fee

Can I claim on self assessment for tax deduction for the 5k I paid in legal fees while employed ?

Didn't find your answer?

I recently employed a lawyer to help negotiate my exit from my employer whilst I was still working there.

I sucessfully received a settlement agreement with the help of my lawyer who charged me 5K for her trouble. Question is can I claim this against my tax return? I was still employed when i paid this fee.

I have received various advice from different camps and im confused.

Replies (15)

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By Accountant A
03rd Jan 2018 21:03

I think you should sue your lawyer for not getting your legal fees included in your settlement.

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Replying to Accountant A:
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By woody123
03rd Jan 2018 21:20

many thanks for the response but doesn’t really answer the question ??

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Replying to woody123:
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By Accountant A
03rd Jan 2018 21:39

woody123 wrote:

many thanks for the response but doesn’t really answer the question ??

The answer is "no".

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Replying to Accountant A:
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By woody123
03rd Jan 2018 22:12

Most helpful - thanks.

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JCACE
By jcace
03rd Jan 2018 21:32

The general rule is that a deduction from earnings is allowed for an amount if—
(a)the employee is obliged to incur and pay it as holder of the employment, and
(b)the amount is incurred wholly, exclusively and necessarily in the performance of the duties of the employment.
I think you will struggle to meet these conditions.

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Out of my mind
By runningmate
03rd Jan 2018 21:46

There is a difference between a cost incurred in performing your work (=allowable) and a cost incurred in reaching an agreement that you no longer have to perform your work (=not allowable).
RM

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By JCresswellTax
04th Jan 2018 09:11

8 exclamation marks?

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Replying to JCresswellTax:
Out of my mind
By runningmate
04th Jan 2018 09:55

You counted them????????

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Replying to runningmate:
Oaklea
By Chris.Mann
04th Jan 2018 09:58

The level of "entertainment", here on Aweb, is obviously especially low, at the moment.

It'll be sheep next................

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Replying to Chris.Mann:
By SteveHa
04th Jan 2018 10:05

Don't count on them.

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Replying to JCresswellTax:
Euan's picture
By Euan MacLennan
04th Jan 2018 10:20

HELP?

If you were not asking for help, you would not be posting a question. The "HELP" is as redundant as the exclamation marks.

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Replying to Euan MacLennan:
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By woody123
04th Jan 2018 10:27

Ok I get it you don’t know the answer - that’s fine.

Hope you don’t find yourself redundant any time soon xxxxx

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Replying to woody123:
paddle steamer
By DJKL
04th Jan 2018 10:46

But you have already got your answer well up the thread.

The rest of the posts on this thread are mere mutterings around the "virtual coffee machine", for a fair few of us posting on here A Web is the bulk of our human contact during the working day, certainly I can spend a typical Thursday/Friday working at home speaking to no one until after 5.30 p.m. when the family return. (though not today as am actually in office with other sentient beings, but only because I did not come in on Monday and Tuesday)

Remember to support " Care for an Accountant this Christmas"

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Replying to JCresswellTax:
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By The Accountant
04th Jan 2018 10:37

I counted nine.

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Red Leader
By Red Leader
04th Jan 2018 10:56

No.

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