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16 Apr 2008
UHY Hacker Young have used the Freedom of Information Act to discover details of HM Revenue & Customs' expenses regime, which shows its 83,000 staff can run up expenses for items such as meals, hotel accommodation and travel without submitting receipts.
HMRC staff are allowed to claim £100 for an overnight stay in London and £20 for an evening meal while working out of their office without handing in receipts, The Daily Telegraph reports.
‘Accountants who frequently face challenges over expenses for as little as £10 will find it ironic that HMRC runs such a liberal "no questions asked" system for its own employees,’ Clive Gawthorpe, a UHY Hacker Young partner, said.
HMRC denied any double standards, saying staff had to keep receipts for all claimed expenditure over £10. Staff only stayed in hotels when there was an unavoidable business need and the cheapest option was always taken.
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HMRC accused of double standards
An interesting, if somewhat inaccurate read. I certainly don't get an allowance of £100 to stay overnight - hotels are booked centrally for us. And frankly they are not awfully good - No Ritz's, Savoys or Sheratons or Hiltons for us!
The UP TO (it's not compulsory to spend it all) £20 evening meal allowance has to have a receipt to support it.
All meals taken by HMRC staff have to have a receipt if they cost more than £10.
Posted by: "taxman", 16 Apr 2008 | 00:00