As a freelancer or self-employed professional in Kent, every mile and train ticket can add up — not just in cost but also in potential tax savings. Claiming travel expenses correctly can help reduce your taxable income and ensure you’re not paying more tax than you should.
In this guide, we’ll break down what counts as a travel expense, what HMRC allows, and how freelancers in Kent can make the most of travel deductions on their tax return. Get in touch with Clayton and Stirling today to get advice from professional accountants.
What Counts as a Travel Expense for Freelancers?
If you travel for work — whether to meet a client in Maidstone, deliver services in Gravesend, or attend a business event in London — those costs may be tax-deductible.
HMRC allows self-employed individuals to claim “wholly and exclusively” business-related travel expenses. That means:
Allowable business travel includes:
- Driving to meet clients, suppliers, or attend meetings
- Travel to a temporary workplace or site
- Trips to training courses or professional events
- Parking fees, tolls, and congestion charges
- Public transport such as trains, buses, or taxis used for business
Non-allowable travel includes:
- Normal commuting from home to your regular place of work
- Personal errands during a business trip
- Holidays or trips with a personal element
Example: If you’re a self-employed photographer in Kent and drive to a wedding venue in Canterbury for work, you can claim the mileage. But if you then detour to visit friends, that personal leg of the journey wouldn’t be claimable.
Claiming Mileage as a Freelancer
If you use your personal vehicle for business, HMRC allows you to claim simplified mileage rates instead of working out actual costs.
Current mileage rates for the 2024/2025 tax year:
- 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles
- 25p per mile for anything above 10,000 miles
This covers fuel, insurance, road tax, and wear and tear, so you can’t claim additional vehicle running costs on top if you use mileage rates.
Example:
If you drive 5,000 business miles in a year visiting clients across Kent, 5,000 miles × £0.45 = £2,250 deductible from taxable income.
Claiming Actual Travel Costs (Alternative to Mileage)
If you prefer, you can claim actual travel expenses instead of using mileage rates. This may be suitable if your vehicle costs are high.
You can include:
- Fuel
- Insurance (business proportion only)
- Servicing and repairs
- Road tax
- MOT
- Breakdown cover
You must keep detailed records and work out the business use percentage of your car. This is more admin-heavy but sometimes more tax-efficient for freelancers who travel a lot.
Can you Claim Public Transport & Other Travel Costs
Yes! Not every freelancer drives. You can also claim other types of travel expenses if they’re purely for business:
Claimable examples:
- Train or bus fares to meet a client in London or Ashford
- Taxi fares between meetings
- Flights for business trips
- Hotel accommodation (if overnight travel is required)
- Meals while away overnight (reasonable amounts only)
Keep every ticket, receipt, or booking confirmation. Digital copies are acceptable if stored securely.
Keeping Records of Your Travel Expenses
HMRC requires self-employed individuals to keep detailed records of all travel expenses for at least 5 years after the 31 January filing deadline.
To stay organised:
- Log mileage monthly instead of yearly
- Store digital copies of receipts using accounting software like Xero, QuickBooks, or FreeAgent
- Separate personal and business travel clearly
- Use a business bank account if possible for easier tracking
This helps ensure your claims are accurate and defensible if HMRC ever reviews your return.
Travel Expenses and Working From Home
If your home is your main place of business — which is common for freelancers in Kent — travel from your home office to temporary client sites is usually allowable.
Example: A freelance designer working from home in Dartford drives to a client’s office in Tunbridge Wells to present a project. This journey counts as business travel.
If, however, you rent a permanent workspace or co-working office and travel from home to that location daily, it counts as normal commuting and can’t be claimed.
How a Local Accountant in Kent Can Help
Travel expense rules can get tricky, especially if you split trips between personal and business reasons. A local accountant can help you:
- Identify all allowable travel expenses
- Choose between mileage or actual cost method
- Keep records that meet HMRC standards
- Avoid over- or under-claiming
- Maximise deductions to reduce your tax bill
At Clayton Stirling & Co, we help freelancers and self-employed professionals across Kent manage their travel expenses accurately and efficiently — so you can keep more of what you earn.
Final Thoughts – Professional Accountants in Kent
Claiming travel expenses properly can make a real difference to your bottom line as a freelancer.
By keeping clear records, understanding what’s allowed, and getting expert support where needed, you can confidently claim every penny you’re entitled to — without fear of HMRC penalties. Get in touch with Clayton Stirling today.
