Author Topic: Do you guys put down holiday expenses on your tax forms (Read 2963 times)

Cider Apple · « **on:** September 22, 2016, 17:05 »

OK so I've never done this yet but I've been thinking of it for a while.
When we go on our family annual holiday (normally abroad) I always take my video gear and can shoot up to 500 vids in 2 weeks. (I know it's my holiday time but I'm one of those sad people that just love filming) We normally drive over to France so I can lug around all my kit in the car. My wife and kids are really supportive and take star roles in most of my clips. I love getting up early and investigating the new landscape. Anyway.......
If I'm "working" whilst on holiday, can I put down any expenses against my annual income tax (I'm in the UK)
Has anyone ever done this?
Thanks for any advise

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #1 on:** September 22, 2016, 17:22 »

I've not done it, but I can't really see a problem with it. Although, I think if you claimed for everything then you'd likely get in trouble. Like how if you work from home, you can claim a portion of your rent and electricity, I think it would only be fair for you to only claim a portion of your flights and accommodation, as it's still a holiday at the end of the day. As for claiming flights and accommodation for the family, not sure how well that would go down. I mean, yes they may be integral to your shots, but they might say "if you're paying for their flights then why aren't you also paying them at least minimum wage. Where are the invoices for their wages?"

Just thinking out loud now... I could be wrong.

Cider Apple · « **Reply #2 on:** September 22, 2016, 17:31 »

Thanks Space for a quick response. Yeah I wouldn't take the pi** I'm just wondering like the house for example. I have a study which I solely use for stock, I have 10 rooms in the house so I divide and subtract all bills by 1/10th against my tax (I think that's right).
Just wondering if you can do the same for holidays some how? There's 5 of us in the family so If I'm out shooting most mornings can I divide the holiday into 1/5th and subtract that?

I know it's a thin line but wondering whats possible?

Rose Tinted Glasses · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2016, 18:13 »

Anything posted on here regarding taxation and what is an eligible tax deduction is heresay.

Contact your local jurisdiction tax office for the facts.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2016, 19:09 »

The OP should research the tax rules in his country when it comes to deducting travel/vacation expenses. In the US it is fairly clear.

Cider Apple · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2016, 19:17 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on September 22, 2016, 19:09

The OP should research the tax rules in his country when it comes to deducting travel/vacation expenses. In the US it is fairly clear.

From what I've read from the inland revenue there is no info on this. Thats why I'm asking if anyone else has done it from the UK? Suppose it's like a working holiday? I'll phone them up and get an answer and post the response on here so anyone else in a similar position will know what to do...

qwerty · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2016, 21:40 »

You can claim anything till you get audited.

Rules are different all over the place but, a proportion of the costs that you can assign to taking the stock video images should be reasonable, I wouldn't go overboard, it would also depend on how much stock you actually get up for sale, if you went on a 3 month round the world trip and submitted 1 10 second clip and claimed the whole lot of expenses wouldn't be a good look.

As with all things tax 100 bucks asking a tax accountant would be tax deductible money well spent.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #7 on:** September 23, 2016, 00:50 »

Quote from: Cider Apple on September 22, 2016, 17:31

Thanks Space for a quick response. Yeah I wouldn't take the pi** I'm just wondering like the house for example. I have a study which I solely use for stock, I have 10 rooms in the house so I divide and subtract all bills by 1/10th against my tax (I think that's right).
Just wondering if you can do the same for holidays some how? There's 5 of us in the family so If I'm out shooting most mornings can I divide the holiday into 1/5th and subtract that?

I know it's a thin line but wondering whats possible?

Nooooooooo don't don't don't divide the bills by 10. Divide by 10 and multiply by .95. And no you don't use the study just for work. It is your spare bedroom or movie room that you almost entirely use for work. Unless uou want to get into all sorts of mess with the tax man, mostly when you come to sell your house.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #8 on:** September 23, 2016, 00:52 »

Also you can't write off the mortgage but you can write of a percentage of the interest.

Also you don't count all the rooms for the calculations. Only certain ones.

If I get the chance latter I will try and find some links.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2016, 00:52 »

As for the holiday you should be able to write off some reasonable amount.

Cider Apple · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2016, 01:57 »

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on September 23, 2016, 00:50

Quote from: Cider Apple on September 22, 2016, 17:31
Thanks Space for a quick response. Yeah I wouldn't take the pi** I'm just wondering like the house for example. I have a study which I solely use for stock, I have 10 rooms in the house so I divide and subtract all bills by 1/10th against my tax (I think that's right).
Just wondering if you can do the same for holidays some how? There's 5 of us in the family so If I'm out shooting most mornings can I divide the holiday into 1/5th and subtract that?

I know it's a thin line but wondering whats possible?
Nooooooooo don't don't don't divide the bills by 10. Divide by 10 and multiply by .95. And no you don't use the study just for work. It is your spare bedroom or movie room that you almost entirely use for work. Unless uou want to get into all sorts of mess with the tax man, mostly when you come to sell your house.

Ha ha ha! OMG I'd never set anything against our mortgage. I'm talking about household bills only. Heating, Electricity and Fibre Broadband.

Cider Apple · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2016, 02:06 »

Thanks for all the responses. As were all creatives it's hard to do the numbers at the end of the year. I know I personally could write down loads more things but I can't or won't as I'm not sure of the system, I find it pretty confusing to be honest.

Qwerty you're probably right, I think I should get an accountant to take a look. I don't even take in account car costs and with my Holiday question I could probably save £1000's each year.

Thanks guys...

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2016, 02:10 »

You are allowed offset some of the interest and some of your house insurance too. But be careful about claiming any part of the house is used exclusively for business even for utility bills. For example residential property is exempt from capital gains if you sell at a profit. If one room isn't part of your home you could get into trouble. It is the main thing I remember from the business advice service when setting up. Make sure there's some bit of furniture in there you use for other things, like a sofa bed or something.

dpimborough · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2016, 03:17 »

Quote from: Cider Apple on September 22, 2016, 17:05

OK so I've never done this yet but I've been thinking of it for a while.
When we go on our family annual holiday (normally abroad) I always take my video gear and can shoot up to 500 vids in 2 weeks. (I know it's my holiday time but I'm one of those sad people that just love filming) We normally drive over to France so I can lug around all my kit in the car. My wife and kids are really supportive and take star roles in most of my clips. I love getting up early and investigating the new landscape. Anyway.......
If I'm "working" whilst on holiday, can I put down any expenses against my annual income tax (I'm in the UK)
Has anyone ever done this?
Thanks for any advise

To quote my accountant you can write off travel and other expenses if you can prove you were working during the trip.

If it is a holiday then you need to record the hours you did work and you can write off a proportion of the trip expenses.

However what you can not do is go on holiday take lots of photos and vid then not put them up for sale while claiming trip expenses as work related.

LesHoward · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2016, 14:37 »

I'm in Canada so I can't offer any specific advice about British tax rules but I have a couple of suggestions.

I use a tax expert to do my taxes. She's completely up to date on all our local laws and has given me lots of good advice about what I can claim and how to arrange things to make them deductible. It costs me $100 a year (that's deductible!) and I can call her anytime. Plus she's handled problems when Revenue Canada themselves made mistakes. She has saved me far more than I've ever had to pay her.

Get model releases for each member of your family, pay them a reasonable modelling fee (by cheque since that gives you proof and makes it deductible too), photograph them (especially in front of identifiable landmarks) and upload plenty of pictures to your stock agency(s).

Get a notebook and track all your travel, hotel, meal and other expenses with receipts. It's better to have the information and not be to claim it than to be able to claim it but not have the information.

I also do a lot of business type traveling and expense deductions are always a problem. Don't forget that you need those receipts!

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Author Topic: Do you guys put down holiday expenses on your tax forms (Read 2963 times)

Cider Apple

SpaceStockFootage

Cider Apple

Rose Tinted Glasses

Sean Locke Photography

Cider Apple

qwerty

Justanotherphotographer

Justanotherphotographer

Justanotherphotographer

Cider Apple

Cider Apple

Justanotherphotographer

dpimborough

LesHoward

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