Contractor Summer Essentials For The Building Site
Summer is here: the sun’s cracking the flags and Britons up and down the country are rejoicing as they load up the car and head for the beach.
But as a builder, your experience of the sun might be sullied from working all hours in the heat. If you find yourself working outside, don’t suffer alone. We’ve put together a list of essentials to help you through.
And it’s good news – if your spends are for business expenses, you may just be able to claim some of these items as part of your tax rebate.
Sunscreen
Slap on the sunscreen and keep your receipts, because working outside means that this essential can be claimed as an allowable expense.
Ice cream
Food and drink can be claimed ordinarily from a temporary place of work, so feel free to indulge. After all, it’s at the expense of staying cool! You can find more about the rules surrounding subsistence expenses in our comprehensive guide.
Lightweight gear
The rules around uniform expenses can be a little complicated, but if it’s needed for safety or protection, you’re good to go. Look for light, short-sleeved protective clothing which will keep you cool on the building site.
Sunglasses
If your sunglasses are bought specifically as Payment Protection Equipment (PPE), it’s likely that you’ll be able to stick them on your expenses. But note HMRC are unlikely to let your favourite pair of Ray-Bans slide!
Plenty of online retails market their gear specifically for builders so this is a good way to make sure you’re buying something specifically for your work. If in doubt, look out for anything referred to as safety spectacles, as these will generally be made specifically for UV protection.
Health insurance
Sadly, there aren’t any rules around a maximum temperature for working outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t protect yourself in the event that you can’t work. It’s rare, but accidents can happen as a result of working in the heat – dehydration, heat stroke or even losing concentration!
If you’ve taken the necessary precautions to protect yourself, health insurance can provide that extra peace of mind. And the good news? Stick it on your tax rebate.
Get your tax rebate
Come rain or shine, you can rely on Brian Alfred to get you a tax refund, real quick. Just download your form, send it back to us and we’ll take care of the rest. Your tax rebate is just a few clicks away.