A guide to offsetting training expenses against rental income

Improving knowledge and skills to make more money is one of the common traits of buy to let investors who queue up to attend seminars, courses, and conferences.

Some of these events cost thousands of pounds to attend – and investors often try to claim the cost back through their property business only to find the taxman disallows the expense.

The rules for claiming knowledge-based expenses are complicated and often even tax inspectors can’t come to an agreement about allowing an expense.

Two tax rules affect the claim:

• If the expense gives a property business owner new skills or expertise, then the claim is disallowed as a capital cost and a rental business can only reclaim specific capital costs mainly relating to buying, selling and improving a property
• If the expense is for training that reinforces current knowledge, then the claim is allowed

The problem is drawing the line between the two.

Let’s assume that all property investors have a basic understanding of keeping financial records, but take a tax course to help them better understand the rules for their business, then that’s OK as a business expense.

The same property investor then takes a course on lease options with a view to business expansion in to a new area, then this is not allowed as a business cost.

If a cost is not allowed, any related costs like travel and subsistence can’t be claimed either.

Avoid any course specifically for novices – including that word or similar terms suggests the person has no knowledge in the field and is looking to learn. That would come under a new skill.

A good way to work out if a claim is allowable is to put yourself in the position of an employee for any large company.

The firm will pay for training that enhances the employee’s knowledge to let them perform their job better, but won’t pay for new skills or qualifications.

Apply that rule to training costs and you won’t go far wrong – and don’t forget training costs include books, subscriptions to web sites and magazines as well as seminars and courses.