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sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 06 6:23 pm Post subject: Business vehicles

The van has been in to the garage again today, and they declared that the engine may last another year but no more. The van is 20 odd years old already, and it suits us fine as its the best mix of 'big enough to fit loads of stock into' and 'camper; and works great for all our big vehical needs.

So, question for the traders, how do you choose a trading van and when do you decide its past maintaining? Currently we plan to fix this in due course, but at some point its not worth it.

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 06 9:58 pm Post subject:
Tax-wise, I was advised by the accountant that our Land Rover truck is so old and knackered (it's now 22 years old!) that it would be better to claim mileage for it than put it on the books - seeing as it is also used for shopping trips, the odd school run and general runabout use. His advice was to claim 40p a mile for business use, which soon adds up.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 06 10:06 pm Post subject:
Thats interesting, currently the only bit of the van that goes through teh books is the odd tank fo fuel on specific show days because ist technically Gareth's day to day car, though it doenst get used that way much. Hadnt really planned on putting it on the books mostly because the depreciation thing on vehicals confuses me and I wanst sure how to do it properly

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 06 8:43 am Post subject:
...in which case take the simplest way out and claim the mileage for each and every business-related trip. You'd be pleasantly surprised how much 40p a mile adds up to when offset against what you make.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 06 9:01 am Post subject:
We do what Gervase suggests - it works very well.

Penny Outskirts

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 06 9:08 am Post subject:
So do we

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 06 9:21 am Post subject:
Hoorah, thats what I'll do then. I'm all in favour of simple book-keeping

hedgewitch

Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Posts: 5834
Location: Daft wench GHQ

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 06 9:40 am Post subject:

Penny wrote:

So do we

Same here

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 06 9:42 am Post subject:
I think that your pocket will tell you when your van is due for replacement. Here's an interesting one. You are only allowed to claim a certain percentage of your vehicles expenses if you use it for business but I was able to claim a 100 % for my pest control van because as it was used to carry poisons and the like I was able to argue that business was its sole use.

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