Expenses and travel (2024)

Payments towards the cost of travelling

If you make payments to your employees for non-business journeys, this is generally taxed as pay. Travel to and from work is considered a non-business journey.

If your employee has a company car, and you make payments towards the car running costs, the costs:

If you make payments for business travel, this will generally not be taxed as pay. The payment must be made in line with the guidelines set out in Travel and subsistence.

Payment of taxi fares

Where you pay taxi fares for your employees, this is generally taxed as pay. If the taxi is shared by more than one employee, the taxable amount should be split equally.

Taxi fares paid by you are not taxable pay where either of the following apply:

1. Provision of taxi transport on an irregular basis

  • your employee has to work between 22.00 and 06.00
  • the taxi transport is provided to ensure the safety of the employee
  • the taxi is paid from work to home only
  • they are provided irregularly (no more than 60 journeys per year).

The exemption does not apply to individuals who work late as part of their normal working pattern.

Revenue introduced a concessionary measure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Details of this can be found in payment of taxi fares in the Benefit-in-kind (BIK) changes during COVID-19 restrictions section.

2. Provision of taxi transport for a disabled employee

Taxi fares paid by you are not taxable pay if your employee has:

  • a disability that has a significant and long-term effect on the employee’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities
  • difficulty using public transport.

This applies for journeys both to and from work. Additionally, where a staff member is unwell and is sent home in a taxi, this is not taxable pay.

Payment of travel pass

If you have provided your employee with a travel pass, see Travel passes or air miles for more information.

Provision of a bus service

If you provide a bus service to transport your employees to and from work, it will not be taxed as pay if the service is:

  • available to employees whether they use it or not
  • for journeys between home and work
  • for journeys between workplaces.

Other amounts

You can make other payments to your employees such as:

  • round sum expense payments to your employees and directors
  • tips, including credit card tips, received from customers.

You must treat these payments as pay, and tax them in the normal way.

If your employees receive tips directly from customers, they must declare this income on their tax returns.

Next: Lump sum payments

Published: 25 July 2023 Please rate how useful this page was to you Print this page

Expenses and travel (2024)

FAQs

What is travel and expenses? ›

Travel expenses refer to the expenditure incurred on travelling for the purpose of carrying on any business or profession or employment. A taxpayer can claim the deduction for travel expenses while calculating their income from a particular source.

What are travel cost expenses? ›

A business travel expense is a cost incurred when traveling for business purposes. This can include the cost of products or services necessary for the trip and is usually associated with traveling away from home for days or weeks.

What qualifies as a travel expense? ›

Deductible travel expenses include:

Travel by airplane, train, bus or car between your home and your business destination. Fares for taxis or other types of transportation between an airport or train station and a hotel, or from a hotel to a work location.

How do you show travel expenses? ›

Here are some examples:
  1. The actual costs of the travel (the flight, train ticket, hotel cost, etc)
  2. The. subsistence expenditure. (your food and drink consumed during the time you travel)
  3. Any other costs that came about because you made the journey such as entertainment.

What do you mean by expenses? ›

An expense is a cost that businesses incur in running their operations. Expenses include wages, salaries, maintenance, rent, and depreciation. Expenses are deducted from revenue to arrive at profits. Businesses are allowed to deduct certain expenses from taxes to help alleviate the tax burden and bulk up profits.

What is the limit for travel expenses? ›

The exemption is also limited to LTA provided by the employer. For example, if LTA granted by the employer is Rs 30,000, and the actual travel cost incurred by the employee is Rs 20,000, then only Rs 20,000 will be available as an exemption and the balance of Rs 10,000 would be included in taxable salary income.

What is the average travel expenses? ›

How much does the average vacation cost? The average vacation for one person in the United States costs about $1,986 per week. A vacation for two people will typically cost around $3,971 per week.

What is all expenses paid trip? ›

If something is all expenses paid, it means that you do not have to pay for anything yourself: She's going on a trip to New York, all expenses paid. an all expenses paid trip to New York.

How much money do I need to travel? ›

As an approximate guide, I generally allow about $2,000 (£1,000 / €1,500) a month when backpacking around the world. Cities tend to be the most expensive places to stay so allow more if you are spending more than a few days in major cities.

When can I claim travel expenses? ›

Generally, you can claim a transport deduction for travel done: from your workplace/place of business to meetings or events offsite. between two separate workplaces for different jobs. from one job to your second job/an alternative workplace if and when required (you can claim the cost of travelling between locations)

How to calculate travel expenses? ›

Look into the cost of lodging, vehicle rentals, fuel costs, flight costs, and any other expenses you may incur. Gather all of your costs together and keep them organized so you can plan for expenses and calculate your costs. You can also use a formula to figure out your fuel costs if you're driving to your destination.

Are travel expenses considered income? ›

Most reimbursem*nts for ordinary and necessary travel expenses for temporary travel are not taxable. However, if the work at the temporary location is expected to last longer than a year or for an indefinite period of time, the reimbursem*nt is taxable.

How do I verify travel expenses? ›

A successful audit should follow this five-step process:
  1. Collate all expense reports. ...
  2. Review company travel expense policies. ...
  3. Investigate questionable expense claims. ...
  4. Verify financial records. ...
  5. Create a report.

Do you need receipts for travel expenses? ›

Which receipts must I keep? Receipts are required for lodging, rental cars, gas purchases when using a rental car, and any other expenses over $75.

How do you politely ask for travel expenses? ›

Phone the company

Introduce yourself, using your full name and say that you have an upcoming interview for a specific position. Ask to be put through to someone who deals with the company's travel expenses policy. Stay polite and professional at all times, even if the answer is a clear no.

What does T&E stand for? ›

In expense reporting, the meaning of T & E stands for travel and expenses or travel and entertainment, depending on your company's policy. T & E includes the daily costs incurred by an employee while traveling for business, such as overnight accommodation, meals and transportation.

What is a travel and expense card? ›

The Travel and Expense Corporate Card (T&E Corporate Card) is a Visa credit card issued by Bank of America. It can be used by eligible individuals to pay for University-approved travel and business-related expenses.

What are travel expenses for work called? ›

Per diems are daily allowances for the costs of business travel. Per diems cover business expenses for accommodations, meals, and incidentals.

What is the meaning of travel costs? ›

Travel costs . ' means expenses for transportation, lodging, subsistence (meals and incidentals), and related expenses incurred by employees who are on travel status on official business of the recipient for any travel.

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