Whether you travel globally to attend conferences or commute to meetings, the travel costs can quickly add up. Luckily, the HMRC has various guidelines in place that allow you to claim back certain business-related travel expenses from your tax bill.
But what travel expenses can you claim back in the UK? Let’s take a look at today’s blog, where we have formulated an HMRC travel expenses guide to help you manage your finances most accurately.
What are Travel Expenses?
Travel expenses are the costs incurred while travelling for business. Typically, travel expenses include money spent on food, transportation, and accommodation, among other things. If you frequently go on business trips, it’s helpful to know what is and isn’t considered travel expenses.
If you travel to meet a client in London from another part of the UK, you could spend:
- £200 on the initial train journey, economy class
- £50 in taxi fare travelling to or from the train station
- £6.70 for a day travelling on the London Underground
These essential business travel payments quickly add up. Luckily, you can claim these expenses back on your tax bills.
Can You Claim Tax Relief for Travel Expenses?
Businesses can claim tax relief on business travel expenses. These expenses must be business-related, and you must follow the HMRC guidelines closely when claiming back, as you may be challenged if the HMRC believes the expenses to be unreasonable.
Let’s take a look at some of the things to consider when claiming tax relief on travel expenses and what you can and can’t claim back on.
Business travel expenses can be claimed back if you have significant proof of your spending. From flights to accommodation, all aspects of your journey must be work-related to be eligible for tax relief.
It is essential to keep records of your expenses if you want to claim, as without proof, you will not be able to claim tax relief.
Looking for a list of business expenses you can claim? Check out our list.
| Expense | Can You Claim Tax Relief? | Notes |
| Commuting to work | No | Travelling from home to your permanent workplace is not eligible for tax relief, regardless of the cost. |
| Commuting to a temporary workplace | Yes | Must meet HMRC’s guidelines, and the cost must be solely for business. |
| Using public transport | Yes | As long as this is for business-related travel. |
| Personal expenses whilst travelling for work | No | Any expenses incurred whilst travelling for work that are personal are not eligible for tax relief. |
| Taxis and flights | Yes | Providing that you are travelling for business purposes only. Luxury upgrades are not included. |
| Overnight stays | Yes | It must be necessary for business purposes. Excluding luxury hotels. |
| Meals during business travel | Yes | Must be part of the trip. Excessive or non-essential meals may not be approved. |
Following on from the table, the HMRC considers a workplace as temporary if you work there for under 24 months and it is not your regular place of work. if you work at the same location for over 40% of your time for more than 24 months it becomes your ‘permanent’ place of work and no longer eligible for tax relief.
You cannot claim against non-business-related sightseeing or excursions whilst away on a business trip.
If you use your car for work trips, then you can claim mileage using HMRC’s approved rates:
- 45p per mile for the first 10k miles 25p per mile after that
- 24p per mile for motorcycles
- 20p per mile for bicycles
You must keep a mileage log with dates, destinations and reasons.
When to Claim Travel Expenses
Travel expense claims must be made within four years of the end of the tax year in which you spent the money on your business trip.
For example, if you paid for travel during the 2025/26 tax year (which runs from 6 April 2025 to 5 April 2026), you must submit your claim to HMRC by 5 April 2030. Claims can be made through the HMRC website using the online P87 form.
Claiming tax relief is relatively straightforward and can be done via the HMRC website using an online form. You don’t have to claim every time you travel, you can claim at the end of the tax year or even for multiple years at once, ensuring they are within the 4-year limit.
To claim, you will need:
- Details of the journey, dates, reason, location, etc.
- Mileage records, if you travelled in your car.
- Receipts and invoices for transport, accommodation or anything else you would like to claim for.
Your PAYE reference can be found on your payslip.
Expert Tax Advice at DH Business Support
Ensuring that you are keeping up to date with guidelines and filing your tax correctly can be difficult to keep up with – that’s where we come in. Here at DH Business Support, we are here to give you support and guidance on the best ways to file your tax returns and stay compliant with HMRC regulations and avoid making mistakes.
We have years of knowledge and experience in dealing with tax relief and can give you tax advice to help simplify the process and ensure your finances are running smoothly.
If you’re unsure of what you can and can’t claim tax relief for regarding travel expenses, don’t worry. We understand that claiming tax relief can be difficult to understand, which is why we’re here.
To find out more about our services, please get in touch today. We’re happy to help all business types and are on hand to answer any questions!