Accommodation expenses and benefits
There are special rules for the provision of living accommodation to employees under certain circumstances. In most cases, employees will pay tax on any living accommodation provided by an employer unless they qualify for an exception. However, where an employee qualifies for an exception, there is no tax to pay on the provision of living accommodation. The definition of living accommodation includes houses, flats, houseboats, holiday homes and apartments. It does not include hotel rooms or board and lodgings.
An exception for living accommodation will generally apply in cases where:
- the accommodation is necessary for an employee to do their job properly,
- it is customary to have living accommodation provided so that the employee can better perform their job,
- the employee faces a special threat to their security because of their job, and the living accommodation is in place to help protect them.
HMRC publishes a list of some of the main occupations that typically provide living accommodation. This includes: agricultural workers living on farms or estates, pub and off-license managers living on premises, police officers and prison governors.
Employees provided with living accommodation can also be provided with other related benefits such as:
- heating and lighting the accommodation,
- the repair, maintenance and decoration of the interior,
- the cost of servants, gardeners etc..,
- provision of furniture, domestic appliances and other equipment.
Latest news
- Tax Diary June/July 2024
07/05/2024 - More...
1 June 2024 - Due date for corporation tax due for the year ended 31 August 2023. 19 June 2024 - PAYE and NIC
- Cyber protection laws introduced
07/05/2024 - More...
New consumer protections against hacking and cyber-attacks came into force at the end of April 2024. All internet
- New Companies House powers
07/05/2024 - More...
The recently introduced Economic Crime and Transparency Act has gifted Companies House a range of new powers aimed at
Search archive
Newsletter
With our newsletter, you automatically receive our latest news per e-mail and get access to the archive including advanced search options!