Many small businesses, whether incorporated or not, pay family members for working for the company. However, as a recent case shows, it is easy to make mistakes which can prove costly.
The case in question, Nicholson v HMRC (TC06293), is by a sole trader to pay wages to his son at university. Mr. Nicholson was a central heating salesman who was trying to build up an internet business. His son had worked for his father for many years. When he went to university, he continued to work for his father—promoting the business through internet and leaflet distribution and computer work.
He pays his son at the rate of £10 per hour for 15 hours’ work a week. However, there was no evidence to support the payment of wages on this basis.
Payments were made partly in cash and partly through the provision of goods – Mr. Nicholson bought his son food and drank to help him while at university and claimed a deduction in his business accounts for this as ‘wages.’
The First Tier Tax Tribunal disallowed a deduction for the wages paid to Mr. Nicholson’s son. Although there was no dispute that his son worked in the business, there was no evidence to back up the claim that the payments had been made wholly and exclusively for the trade. It was not possible to reconcile what had paid as wages to the bank statements. Without contemporaneous records to support the payments, HMRC was unable to accept the sums claimed were ‘wages’ incurred as a business expense. The payments had a dual purpose – the underlying motive was the ‘personal and private’ motive of supporting his son while at university.
Avoiding the pitfalls
Had Mr. Nicholson taken a different approach. He would have been able to claim a deduction for the wages paid to his son. The judge noted whether the payment was made on time recorded basis or using other technology. Further, it was made sure that accurate data has maintained for the hours worked and the amount paid. It is unlikely that the deduction would have been denied. If instead, Mr. Nicholson had made payments to his son’s bank account at the rate of £10 per hour for 15 hours’ work a week, leaving his son to buy food and drink, etc. from the money he had earned working for his Dad, the outcome would have been different. The bank statements would provide evidence of what had been paid, and this could be linked to the record of hours worked. Maintaining the link is key.
When paying family members, it is also important that the amount paid is reasonable in relation to the work done. The acid test is used to check whether the amount paid to a non-family member is of the same rate. A deduction may also be denied if the wages paid are excessive.
