Metropol

that's really mad. how did the tax office know this?

surely you shouldn't have to pay tax on company hospitality?

I agree that is nonsense.

There's a whole lot of clawback going on at the moment. I know lots of folks who are being pursued for stupidly small and questionable sums.

Someone somewhere should be deciding what is not economic to purse and writing off the stupid stuff.

That seems ridiculous - the bin is the best place for it. If they want £14 that much, I'm sure you'll get another letter!

i get these from work - for cups of tea in off site meetings that colleagues have claimed back. as i understand it, employers notify her majesty of these benefits. even though its only pennies i still make sure i notify. although i suppose its easier for me as i have to do a self assessment for my other employment any way, so just stick it on there.

Since when did alcoholic intoxication become a work-related expense? And why wasn't I notified?

The employer has a duty to inform the HMRC via P11D - this is for expenses and benefits.
As you received something from your employer that was not an expense to do your day to day job its technically classed as income and therefore taxable. (If you look at it as you received a temporary pay rise on that day).

You will only be taxed at your standard taxable rate (this is usually 20%)

Gavin Scott wrote:I agree that is nonsense.

There's a whole lot of clawback going on at the moment. I know lots of folks who are being pursued for stupidly small and questionable sums.

Someone somewhere should be deciding what is not economic to purse and writing off the stupid stuff.

This sort of stuff has been going on for years.. The HMRC is currently in consultation with various parties to discontinue P11D and have expenses taxed via PAYE. (A lot of people get it wrong anyway).
Companies can pay the tax on the employees behalf if they get a dispensation from the tax office. This is what is usually done for Christmas parties.

clanguk wrote:That seems ridiculous - the bin is the best place for it. If they want £14 that much, I'm sure you'll get another letter!

They will just issue a tax code change and claim it straight from PAYE.

nidave wrote:As you received something from your employer that was not an expense to do your day to day job its technically classed as income and therefore taxable.

If they want 20% of the drinks back, I will piss in a bottle and post it to them.

You are getting drinks at 20% of their normal price -Effectively reduced by 80%. If work had not have paid for the drinks you would have had to fund the full cost

We're allowed to claim one alcoholic drink with a meal, or a higher-up is allowed to sign for a number (not taking the piss, of course) of drinks under "entertainment". I think it's a sensible system given that, let's face it, a lot of deals for work get done at conferences and meal events.