9th August 2008, 03:42 PM
I agree with David that there might still be some hope here that Customs and Revenue could decide that this is a long standing customary arrangment and amend their recent decision. Fingers crossed.
I thought BAJRites might be interested in how this matter is dealt with here in Norway (or at least with the University of Oslo). For every night that we are away from Oslo central on field work we are entitled to an accomodation allowance (currently about ?34 per night). That allowance is paid retrospectively with our salary and is taxed (but at a lower rate than normal wages).
With the allowance the individual archaeologist pays for their own accomodation. If it works out cheaper per night than the allowance, you keep the difference. If it is more than the allowance, you make up the difference. We have had archaeologists who decide to spend their allowance living on camping sites whilst others have booked into the best available hotel. But it is at least a clear and understandable system and one which if adopted in UK archaeology would work. (I should add we also get a separate meal allowance which an individual can also decide to spend as little of or as much as they wish)
I thought BAJRites might be interested in how this matter is dealt with here in Norway (or at least with the University of Oslo). For every night that we are away from Oslo central on field work we are entitled to an accomodation allowance (currently about ?34 per night). That allowance is paid retrospectively with our salary and is taxed (but at a lower rate than normal wages).
With the allowance the individual archaeologist pays for their own accomodation. If it works out cheaper per night than the allowance, you keep the difference. If it is more than the allowance, you make up the difference. We have had archaeologists who decide to spend their allowance living on camping sites whilst others have booked into the best available hotel. But it is at least a clear and understandable system and one which if adopted in UK archaeology would work. (I should add we also get a separate meal allowance which an individual can also decide to spend as little of or as much as they wish)