Imagine this:
You’re standing on the edge of a freezing river.
Your mate just cannonballed in with a grin, shouting, “It’s totally fine! I do this all the time!”
Now, would you jump in too?
Or would you pause… maybe question whether it’s a good idea… especially if you don’t fancy hypothermia, or worse?
Because that’s exactly what I see when people say things like:
“My friend’s accountant claims everything – her makeup, her holiday, her Deliveroo. And she’s never had a problem!”
Cue the eye twitch.
Let me be clear: just because your friend hasn’t been caught (yet), doesn’t mean it’s legal, safe, or remotely sensible. That accountant isn’t some tax wizard. They’re the one who’s encouraging people to jump into dodgy waters — and they won’t be there when someone starts sinking.
The phrase “everyone’s doing it and they’re fine” isn’t an argument. It’s a warning sign with fairy lights on.
HMRC don’t care what your mate’s accountant got away with. They care about your return. Your numbers. Your signature. And when those “client entertainment” expenses look suspiciously like bottomless brunch, they won’t be asking Sandra from Pilates what she claimed — they’ll be coming for you.
Here’s what a good accountant does:
We ask questions. We say no. We protect your business, even when it’s not the fun or flashy answer.
Yes, I could tell you to put through your eyelash extensions as “marketing.”
But I’d rather help you grow a business that lasts — one that you’re proud of, and one that won’t have you sweating when the brown envelopes start dropping through the door.
So next time someone tells you, “I claimed all of it, and I’m fine!”
Just smile and remember: not everyone who jumped in the river made it out.
