Hello I was wondering if someone may be able to help me with an issue we're having.
My partner really wants to become self employed full time, but is considering part time at the moment as he's employed.
I was recently self employed but as we were still on a low income and living in a high cost rental, we were entitled to some housing benefits to cover the amount we could not pay.
When giving my books into the council with sales of around £1700 for the year, and expenses of over £2000, I was told an expense (a camera to aid in the taking photographs of products) was not allowed to be considered an expense as it was 'something which grows a business' which they don't take into account. They then issued an overpayment for the housing benefit to the cost of the camera. I couldn't pay it any other way than selling the camera and having to stop my business.
Therefore how can my partner successfully grow a business without all of the expenses considered as 'growing a business'. He wants to be a gardener, if he wants to buy a spade, which is a tool used for the business (as was the camera), how can it be right that we have to say that money used is income instead of an expense?
In effect anything he buys to grow a business will have to be paid to the company bought from and again towards the rent of the house ( if he made any money by the ) I do hope I'm explaining this well, I'm horrible at explaining myself.
Thank you for any help, this seems impossible so we just don't think it's worth it. Any ideas?
My partner really wants to become self employed full time, but is considering part time at the moment as he's employed.
I was recently self employed but as we were still on a low income and living in a high cost rental, we were entitled to some housing benefits to cover the amount we could not pay.
When giving my books into the council with sales of around £1700 for the year, and expenses of over £2000, I was told an expense (a camera to aid in the taking photographs of products) was not allowed to be considered an expense as it was 'something which grows a business' which they don't take into account. They then issued an overpayment for the housing benefit to the cost of the camera. I couldn't pay it any other way than selling the camera and having to stop my business.
Therefore how can my partner successfully grow a business without all of the expenses considered as 'growing a business'. He wants to be a gardener, if he wants to buy a spade, which is a tool used for the business (as was the camera), how can it be right that we have to say that money used is income instead of an expense?
In effect anything he buys to grow a business will have to be paid to the company bought from and again towards the rent of the house ( if he made any money by the ) I do hope I'm explaining this well, I'm horrible at explaining myself.
Thank you for any help, this seems impossible so we just don't think it's worth it. Any ideas?