Ask The Experts

Q: What is a power flush and how do I know if my home needs one?

A: Power flushing is important to the health of a central heating system. It combines high-velocity water and carefully-selected chemicals to remove the inevitable build-up of dirt, scale and corrosion from inside your radiators. A successful flush will ensure the efficient operation of your heating system, which will heat quickly and cut costs on your utility bill. You’ll know you need a power flush if you notice one or more of the following symptoms - certain rooms feel colder than others, it takes your system a long time to warm up, any of your radiators are cold at the bottom, your radiators need frequent bleeding and your boiler is noisy. Ashley Cooper, AA Cooper

Q: How is Brightwater different from other cemeteries?

A: Traditionally, when a loved one passes away, we are given the choice of either cremation or in ground burial as a final resting place. At Brightwater we offer a third alternative which is above ground burial. All of our burial chambers are located indoors and above ground which suits those who struggle with the idea of being underground, and perceive it as cold, dark and vulnerable. Equally, there are people who really don’t like the idea of being cremated, so at Brightwater our chambers offer a gentler alternative option. This also means that after the day of the funeral, families then have a comfortable, indoor place to visit their loved ones, where they will always be greeted by a friendly face and can rest assured that they will never be alone. Ian Fletcher, Brightwater Memorial Park

Q: What are considered the best seats in the theatre?

A: We are very lucky at the Churchill Theatre in that all of our seats provide a great view of the stage so could be considered the ‘best seats’. We do have a small number of restricted view seats towards the back of the Stalls and on the first row of the Circle, which we label as such, but we regularly receive compliments and feedback from audience members who come to the theatre about how great are seating is, both in terms of comfort and view of the stage. Megan Kinsey, Bromley Churchill Theatre

Q: I’ve got a bad back – does this mean

I need a hard bed to support my weak muscles?

A: Given that we spend a third of our lives sleeping, it’s important that you get the right bed for your needs. It’s up there with one of the most important purchases you’ll make when it comes to your health. As long as the bed you choose offers the correct support for your spine and sleeping position and ensures correct spinal alignment, that’s the main thing – it need not be hard at all. There’s not one type of mattress that deals with all types of back pain, but you might want to consider an orthopaedic mattress, which is specifically designed to support joints and your spine. That's why we would always say, try before you buy. David Cheeseman, The Bed Post

Working from home?

Here’s what you need to know about claiming expenses

If you are working from home, you may be able to claim tax relief for some of your bills. Victoria Pearson from Perrys Chartered Accountants explains what you can and can’t claim if you are working from home.

My office or factory is closed and I have to work from home. What expenses can I claim?

If you have to work from home, because your office or factory is closed, then you can claim tax relief, but only for the things to do with your work. These include business telephone calls or the additional cost of gas and electricity for your work area. HMRC has a set allowance at £6 a week (£26 a month) from April 2020 to cover additional costs if you have to work from home. For previous tax years this allowance is £4 a week (£18 a month). If your employer reimburses you for the cost of using your home then you cannot claim tax relief from HMRC.

I have decided to work from home permanently. Can I claim tax relief?

If you are employed and you choose to work from home then you cannot claim any tax relief.

However, if you are a sole trader or partnership and you set up a business from home, you can include your business costs in your self-assessment tax return. These include a proportion of the cost of things like council tax, heating, lighting etc. If you find calculating this too complicated, then you can use the set working from home allowance as stated above. You will also be able to claim for a proportion of phone calls and broadband depending on how much you use them for business purposes.

How do I make a claim for tax relief?

If you are eligible for claiming tax relief and you normally complete a self-assessment tax return form, you can make your claim using this method. Otherwise, you can complete a P87 form online via your Government Gateway account or you can complete a postal form.

Do I need to keep records if I claim tax relief when having to work from home?

The good news is you don’t need to keep any records to claim the working at home tax relief so long as your claim does not exceed the £6 a week entitlement from April 2020 (or £4 a week for previous tax years). However, if you believe your costs are a lot higher you could claim more, but you will need to provide proof of expenditure and workings.

What other expenses can I claim for?

Whether you’re working from home or not, you might be able to claim tax relief for other expenses. For example, if you use your own money for things that you must buy for your job and you only use for your work, such as uniforms, clothing and tools; vehicles; travel and overnight expenses; and professional fees and subscriptions.

For these claims you must keep records of what you’ve spent, such as receipts or invoices. You have four years from the end of the tax year in which you spent the money to make a claim.

You cannot claim tax relief if your employer either gives you all the money back or provides an alternative, such as giving you a laptop but you want a different model.

If you require any assistance regarding the information mentioned in this article, please contact your local Perrys office.

Orpington

01689 823175

Tunbridge Wells

01892 543900

West Malling

01732 870032

Wrotham

01732 882488

Historic Dockyard Chatham

01634 245900

City

020 7256 9339

Mayfair

020 7408 4442