Could cosmetic surgery be classed as an expense?

[ladyofthemansion]

Have spent 11 grand on dental implants abroad.
The alternative was false teeth. That would have affected my job.

Can I realistically claim that to be a necessary tax deductible expense just like I'm sure escorts who have boob jobs should be able to do?

[amy]

Lottie, how do you plan to convince the tax office that extensive dental treatment has no personal benefit whatsoever?

[Kay]

I doubt it, because if your teeth were that bad, it's surely a health issue? My understanding is you can only claim for things that are SOLELY for your work. I bought a new bed last year but couldn't list it as an expense because I sometimes sleep on it.

[ladyofthemansion]

I couldn't kiss punters with false teeth. X

[amy]

False teeth don't prevent kissing - that's personal preference.

You can add it to your return and try it, but I wouldn't risk drawing attention to myself and possibly an investigation over something that's got as much chance of being accepted as I have of playing centre back for England tomorrow night.

[xw5]

A simple outline of the rules is at gov.uk/expenses-if-youre-self-employed/overview

Interesting phrases include 'Allowable expenses don?t include money taken from your business to pay for private purchase' - good luck trying to argue that this wasn't a private purchase: regardless of your work, you needed to do something and the choice was the same. Escorting may have given you the money to pay for the implants, but it's clearly not a business purchase.

(Even though it's not, imagine it was. Then you see 'If you use something for both business and personal reasons, you can only claim allowable expenses for the business costs'. So you spend, oh, an hour a day kissing / sucking clients - you would only be able to claim 1/24th of the cost.)

Similarly, you can't claim for gym fees or everyday clothing even if you do use the benefits of both at work.

[Nia Hope]

I claim for gym fees and kit and they accepted it! Tried to claim for breast implants and didn't x

[Mirror]

I claim for gym fees and kit and they accepted it! Tried to claim for breast implants and didn't x

Who accepted it?Have you been subject to a full HMRC investigation?

[Nia Hope]

I claim for gym fees and kit and they accepted it! Tried to claim for breast implants and didn't x

Who accepted it?Have you been subject to a full HMRC investigation?

no! I've always kept on their good side, I just put expenses in and the accountant deals with the details, there is no harm in asking and it doesn't always mean you'll be investigated.

[Nia Hope]

Maybe not always! But in the last 10 years I have,

[Mirror]

I claim for gym fees and kit and they accepted it! Tried to claim for breast implants and didn't x

Who accepted it?Have you been subject to a full HMRC investigation?

no! I've always kept on their good side, I just put expenses in and the accountant deals with the details, there is no harm in asking and it doesn't always mean you'll be investigated.

This doesn't mean HMRC have accepted them, it means that your accountant believes to the best of his knowledge that in the event that HMRC ever wanted to see a break down of your expenses, that the ones you've submitted would be acceptable.

[Nia Hope]

I claim for gym fees and kit and they accepted it! Tried to claim for breast implants and didn't x

Who accepted it?Have you been subject to a full HMRC investigation?

no! I've always kept on their good side, I just put expenses in and the accountant deals with the details, there is no harm in asking and it doesn't always mean you'll be investigated.

This doesn't mean HMRC have accepted them, it means that your accountant believes to the best of his knowledge that in the event that HMRC ever wanted to see a break down of your expenses, that the ones you've submitted would be acceptable.

Well in 10 years I've never had a problem and hopefully I never get investigated, glad you understand HMRC Mirror, I'll pm you when I need tax advice x

[Mirror]

I claim for gym fees and kit and they accepted it! Tried to claim for breast implants and didn't x

Who accepted it?Have you been subject to a full HMRC investigation?

no! I've always kept on their good side, I just put expenses in and the accountant deals with the details, there is no harm in asking and it doesn't always mean you'll be investigated.

This doesn't mean HMRC have accepted them, it means that your accountant believes to the best of his knowledge that in the event that HMRC ever wanted to see a break down of your expenses, that the ones you've submitted would be acceptable.

Well in 10 years I've never had a problem and hopefully I never get investigated, glad you understand HMRC Mirror, I'll pm you when I need tax advice x

No thanks, I'm not a tax expert. I do have a rough idea how it works, and expenses are not detailed on the form. I'm sure your accountant has more than good reasons for including the items mentioned. Mine said he couldn't defend gym fees one will be right, one wrong or different circumstances mean both are right.

We wouldn't know unless subject to a breakdown request, or investigation.

[Fabulassie]

If HMRC investigate and you've been honest, it may be a bit of a faff but you shouldn't get into trouble. The worst that would happen is you'll have to pay the tax that would have been owed. If it's a relatively small amount (I claim my wigs) then no biggie. If it's something major like surgery or years of gym memberships then you could be hit with a large tax bill. I don't know if they charge interest but I don't think there will be penalties as you aren't being fraudulent... it's just a disagreement.

[Nia Hope]

[giant multiple quote redacted]

No thanks, I'm not a tax expert. I do have a rough idea how it works, and expenses are not detailed on the form. I'm sure your accountant has more than good reasons for including the items mentioned. Mine said he couldn't defend gym fees one will be right, one wrong or different circumstances mean both are right.

We wouldn't know unless subject to a breakdown request, or investigation.

I'm clueless with HMRC, I do wrestling sessions so maybe that's why they accepted gym kit? As I said I get the accountant to do everything!