What specific expenses can I claim?
| Type of expense | Can I claim it? | How much can I claim? |
|---|---|---|
| Home rent | Yes | Either claim the percentage that you use your home for work, or a flat home office allowance |
| Office rent | Yes | 100% |
| Co-working space | Yes | 100% |
| Home insurance | Yes | Same as for home rent |
| Home utilities (electric bill, phone bill, etc.) | Yes | Same as for home rent |
| Home repairs | Yes | Same as for home rent |
| Office decorations | Yes | 100% |
| Home mortgage payments | Not really | Only a part of the interest on mortgage – similar to how you claim rent. You’re probably better off using the flat home office allowance |
| Laptop for work | Yes | 100% |
| Phone for work | Yes | 100% |
| Antivirus, Office software | Yes | 100% |
| Paper and pens for work | Yes | 100% |
| Printing | Yes | 100% |
| Protective gear for construction work | Only if your contractor is not already providing you with it | 100% |
| Special uniforms | Only if your contractor is not already providing you with it | 100% |
| Business suit | No | — |
| Car insurance | Yes | Use the percentage that you use your car for work. Keep the invoice. Or just use the flat mileage allowance |
| Fuel | Yes | Use the percentage that you use your car for work. Keep the invoice. Or just use the flat mileage allowance |
| Parking fees | Yes | Use the percentage that you use your car for work. Keep the invoice. Or just use the flat mileage allowance |
| Taxi fares | Yes | Only trips for work – keep the receipts |
| Personal travel | No | — |
| Parking fines | No | — |
| Travel from home to regular workplace | No | — |
| Hiring other people (subcontracting work) | Yes | 100% |
| Buying goods for resale (e.g. on eBay) | Yes | 100% |
| Buying raw goods for production (e.g. you’re making and selling hats on Etsy) | Yes | 100% |
| Maximum Rebate’ fee | Yes | 100% |
| Accountant fees | Yes | 100% |
| Bank, overdraft, and credit card fees | Yes | If you’re using cash basis then you can only claim up to £500. Otherwise 100% |
| Interest on loans | Only if they are for work | 100% |
| Leasing payments | Only if they are for work | 100% |
| Business insurance | Only if it’s for work | 100% |
| Bad customers | Only if you’re using traditional accounting | 100% |
| Advertising (newspapers, local Google Ads, etc.) | Yes | 100% |
| Website development, hosting, domain name, etc. | Yes | 100% |
| Meals with clients or suppliers | Yes | 100% |
| Drinks with clients or suppliers | No | — |
Can you claim mileage as a self-employed expense?
This depends on a range of factors. You may be able to claim this as a capital allowance, but the general rule is that you can claim back costs as long as you can prove it was spent for business purposes.
Mileage can be a tricky one as you may be covered when making your way to and from your business premises or even overnight business trips – but won’t be covered for any personal stops in between.
Give our Mileage Allowance calculator a go to work out what you may be able to claim!