A taxing question

[Deleted member 65149]

My wife has a hair salon where she provides magazines for her clients to read whilst there. She buys the magazines through annual subscription, claiming them as a business expense on her income tax return. During lockdown she didn’t have any clients to read the magazines, and even now that she has reopened her salon, in accordance with Covid-19 rules she doesn’t leave the magazines out. So for a large chunk, or maybe even all, of this financial year the magazines won’t be seen by clients. If my wife claims tax relief for the magazines when she completes her next tax return, will she be liable for prosecution (and no doubt a longer prison sentence than drivers who kill)? She has already paid for the magazines for this year and is still receiving them.

Sensible answers on a postcard only, the rest will be perfectly suited to this forum.

 

[ChrisEdu]

I don't think it would be an issue.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

I don't think it would be an issue.

Groaning at what I hope was an intentional pun

 

[ChrisEdu]

Groaning at what I hope was an intentional pun

Only noticed it after I'd posted.

 

[pmcgsmurf]

Won't be a problem, just take a note on any of the invoices/receipts for future reference.

 

[Darrell]

How much per month does she spend on the magazines?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

It's not a problem, given that it's been a past necessary expense, and it's too small a cost to be worth any form of examination.

However, if she keeps the Mexican pool boy on furlough any longer, there could be questions about her need for him.

 

[baxlin]

I would have thought they’d be treated in the same way as other expenditure suffered but not used - her PI insurance for instance that was not needed while the salon was closed.

 

[Dippo]

Do many of her customers read the motoring magazines?