Client Entertainment

I understand that when entertaining clients and buying client gifts, corporation tax and VAT can not be claimed on this as an expense but can the transaction be submitted and paid by the limited company or would this be a personal expense to the director?

And

Would gift cards sent to clients be treated the same?

Comments

  • Norvydas
    Norvydas Registered Posts: 271 Dedicated contributor 🦉
    @net71

    I believe if a director takes the client out for a meal then you can claim 50% VAT, and you need to disallow 50% on C. Tax. If it's more guests for example 4 guests and 1 director again you would apportionate this correctly. If company pays something solely for a client then this would be 100% disallowable i.e. football season tickets.

    Gifts cards are classified as entertainment and they would be 100% disallowable.
    Kind Regards,

    Norvydas Valavicius.
  • net71
    net71 Registered Posts: 11
    Thank you for your reply.

    100% disallowable - does this mean that the transaction would have to treated as DLA/personal expense or does it mean disallow for Corp Tax and VAT purposes?

    Thanks again. Just trying to get my head around this :/
  • Norvydas
    Norvydas Registered Posts: 271 Dedicated contributor 🦉
    So you would post this to Entertainment nominal, it is still an business expense, it's just disallowed on C. Tax calculation and for VAT purposes.

    i.e. a gift card to the client;

    CR: Bank
    DR: Entertainment

    i.e. Director + client meal total £50.00

    CR: Bank £50.00
    DR: Entertainment £25.00
    DR: Travelling & Subsistence £25.00

    If of course, the Director has paid for entertainment from their own private funds then yes you would credit DLA account and DR an Entertainment, but if it's been paid via bank then just CR Bank.
    Kind Regards,

    Norvydas Valavicius.
  • net71
    net71 Registered Posts: 11
    Thanks so much
  • MarieNoelle
    MarieNoelle Registered, Moderator Posts: 1,368
    edited March 2019
    Norvydas said:

    @net71

    I believe if a director takes the client out for a meal then you can claim 50% VAT.

    It's not so simple I'm afraid. If the director acts as a host than the whole expense is disallowed.
    There is a brilliant article from Neil Warren here
    https://www.icaew.com/en/technical/business-resources/legal-regulatory-tax-governance/tax/let-me-entertain-you-when-can-vat-be-claimed

    The HMRC VAT manual provides further guidance here

    https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/vat-input-tax/vit43200

    Hope this helps
  • MarieNoelle
    MarieNoelle Registered, Moderator Posts: 1,368
    net71 said:

    I understand that when entertaining clients and buying client gifts, corporation tax and VAT can not be claimed on this as an expense but can the transaction be submitted and paid by the limited company or would this be a personal expense to the director

    If it is a genuine expense of the business it should indeed be shown on the accounts as such. The tax treatment is a separate matter.
  • Norvydas
    Norvydas Registered Posts: 271 Dedicated contributor 🦉
    edited March 2019

    Norvydas said:

    @net71

    I believe if a director takes the client out for a meal then you can claim 50% VAT.

    It's not so simple I'm afraid. If the director acts as a host than the whole expense is disallowed.
    There is a brilliant article from Neil Warren here
    I believe if it's an business meal i.e. a director takes the client or a potential client for a meal to discuss business matters then the half of the cost (the directors portion) is an allowable expense?
    Kind Regards,

    Norvydas Valavicius.
  • MarieNoelle
    MarieNoelle Registered, Moderator Posts: 1,368
    Hi @Norvydas

    I think it's a judgement call as to whether the director is acting as a host or not. Say he is working on a project for a client away from his home or office, I agree that his lunch would be classed as subsistence whether or not he pays for the client (which would always be disallowed).
    If he is meeting a new client in a cafe near his home I would class the whole bill as entertainment.
  • Norvydas
    Norvydas Registered Posts: 271 Dedicated contributor 🦉
    @MarieNoelle

    Thank you for your input, it's always nice to hear someones opinion that's more qualified and experienced! :)

    Kind Regards,

    Norvydas Valavicius.
  • net71
    net71 Registered Posts: 11

    If it is a genuine expense of the business it should indeed be shown on the accounts as such. The tax treatment is a separate matter.

    I thought if a gift could be exchanged for alcohol, tobacco or money then it is not a genuine expense so the Director would need to pay for this personally ie Directors Loan Account or am I getting this mixed up?
  • RyanMIP
    RyanMIP Registered Posts: 50
    I can confirm you’re “getting this mixed up”.
  • net71
    net71 Registered Posts: 11
    Thanks :)
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