16th October 2008, 01:10 PM
As one of the people affectedby this tax issue. The tax bill is only for the last tax year, even though I was employed and in accommodation prior to April 2007. It does feel as if the whole situation was rigged against the field archaeologists. The site was half an hour or so away from the office. The site was designated as the office, which meant that as travel expenses are payable beyond the office, there were no expenses. However our accommodation was situated close to the main office, i.e. also half an hour from site - and for taxable benefit purposes this office counts as 'the office'. It feels as if the office can move depending upon (in)convenience to us.
The site was not in an area where there are a lot of archaeologists, and accommodation was essential. I was probably one of the closest archaeologists - and travelled home,a 2 hour journey to my mortgaged house - every weekend. Running two homes in this way doesn't feel like much of a benefit.
Subsistence was paid with the wages, and was taxed at source, so this isn't really relevant to this discussion. I would have preferred the accommodation to have been taxed at source too. It is hard to be hit with this totally unexpected bill, which obviously I had no opportunity to make provision for. It was not mentioned on the P60. nor was it despatched with that.
I would like to know if I am liable for tax if the company offers bunk-house type accommodation, which is what is provided by my next employer. This is a horrible mess. I am also concerned about the effect it will have on my tax credits, which are based on last years income, so I am likely to find myself worse off anyway this year as a result of this tax bill from last year.
The site was not in an area where there are a lot of archaeologists, and accommodation was essential. I was probably one of the closest archaeologists - and travelled home,a 2 hour journey to my mortgaged house - every weekend. Running two homes in this way doesn't feel like much of a benefit.
Subsistence was paid with the wages, and was taxed at source, so this isn't really relevant to this discussion. I would have preferred the accommodation to have been taxed at source too. It is hard to be hit with this totally unexpected bill, which obviously I had no opportunity to make provision for. It was not mentioned on the P60. nor was it despatched with that.
I would like to know if I am liable for tax if the company offers bunk-house type accommodation, which is what is provided by my next employer. This is a horrible mess. I am also concerned about the effect it will have on my tax credits, which are based on last years income, so I am likely to find myself worse off anyway this year as a result of this tax bill from last year.