Paying yourself from abroad
Genuine travel to the UK for company business can be claimed, but the rules on temporary workplaces and dual purpose still apply, and personal or family.
Short answer
A non-resident director can have the company reimburse genuine travel and subsistence for trips made wholly for company business, such as attending board meetings, bank appointments or supplier visits in the UK. Personal visits, family travel and any dual-purpose element are not deductible or reimbursable tax-free.
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar Member of ICAEW, Fellow of ACCA, Fellow of AAT, a double graduate and entrepreneur at heart, helping startups grow and serving thousands of businesses nationwide with an excellent team. Published by LimitedCompany.Accountants, 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Reviewed 12 September 2026 against 2026/27 UK rates and current Companies House and HMRC guidance.
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QuickBooks PartnerCertified ProAdvisor100+ yearsCombined team experienceFully insuredUp to £2m indemnityA non-resident director can have the company reimburse genuine travel and subsistence for trips made wholly for company business, such as attending board meetings, bank appointments or supplier visits in the UK. Personal visits, family travel and any dual-purpose element are not deductible or reimbursable tax-free.
What qualifies
Keeping the paper trail
Flights, UK accommodation and subsistence for a trip whose sole purpose is company business are an allowable company expense and can usually be reimbursed without a tax charge on the director, provided records show the business purpose clearly.
Where a trip mixes business with a personal visit, only the business-related costs are deductible, and HMRC expects a reasonable, evidenced apportionment rather than the whole trip being claimed.
Keep flight and hotel invoices, a note of the meetings or work carried out, and dates, since this is exactly the kind of expense HMRC queries first for a director who does not otherwise appear to work in the UK.
If the same trip also involves signing off accounts or meeting the company's accountant, that still counts as business purpose provided it is not simply a pretext for what is otherwise a personal visit.
Our fixed monthly packages for a UK limited company start at £89 plus VAT and run to £169 and £289 plus VAT as bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and reporting are added. One-off filings are sold at fixed prices, and the Companies House fees we pay for you are charged at cost with no VAT added. Overseas owners are quoted on exactly the same published prices as UK-resident clients.
Rates, thresholds and deadlines here reflect the 2026/27 UK position and current Companies House and HMRC guidance. Check GOV.UK, or ask us, before relying on them for your own company.
Primary references
Local help
We work with company directors across London and Surrey from our office at 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Pick your area, or send the form below and we will call you back.
Frequently asked
No, unless your spouse also has a genuine business role on that trip.
Only in limited, well-evidenced circumstances; most home working costs abroad are not straightforward company expenses.
No formal approval is required, but board minutes noting the business purpose help support the claim.
Keep bank statements, sales and platform reports, purchase invoices, payroll records, VAT workings, finance agreements and Companies House correspondence. We confirm the exact list at onboarding and identify gaps before a filing deadline becomes urgent.
The fee depends on transaction volume, record quality, VAT and payroll requirements, historic catch-up and the level of reporting needed. We agree a fixed scope and price before technical work starts, with published packages available on our fees page.
Yes. We request professional clearance, collect the prior records and authorities, check the next Companies House and HMRC deadlines, and give you one clear handover list. The process is normally completed remotely.
Yes. We work through secure cloud records, scheduled reviews and digital approvals, while keeping a named team available by phone, video call and email. Clients can also visit our Morden office by appointment.
We regularly work with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage and connected sales or expense apps. The right setup depends on transaction volume, integrations and the reports you need, not simply the software brand.
The relevant calendar may include annual accounts, Corporation Tax payment and return dates, confirmation statements, VAT returns, payroll submissions and Self Assessment. We map the dates from your company year end and registrations.
Yes. You can ask a straightforward initial question without charge. Calculations, filings, written advice, planning and HMRC correspondence are scoped and quoted before work begins.
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Pick a time that suits you and a qualified accountant will call you about your company, deadlines and fees.
Appointments run monday to friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Your confirmation is emailed straight away.
