Can I claim meals and entertainment as a business expense in the UK?

In many cases, yes. Business meals with clients, staff entertaining, and subsistence when travelling for work can be allowable expenses. However, the rules vary depending on your business structure and the purpose of the meal. We recommend checking with your accountant or reviewing the latest HMRC guidance on business entertainment.

Does Snyp separate the VAT on restaurant receipts automatically?

Yes. Snyp reads the VAT breakdown printed on your receipt and extracts the net amount and VAT separately. If the receipt includes a valid VAT number, Snyp captures that too so your records are complete.

What if I only have a credit card statement and no receipt?

HMRC generally expects an original receipt or invoice to support a claim. A credit card statement alone may not be sufficient. Snyp makes it easy to capture the receipt at the point of purchase so you always have the backup you need.

Can I record who I dined with and the business purpose in Snyp?

Absolutely. After scanning, you can add notes about attendees and the business reason for the meal. This context is stored alongside the receipt and synced to your accounting software.

Does Snyp handle tips and service charges?

Yes. Snyp extracts the full total including any service charge or tip shown on the receipt, and separates it in the line items so you can see exactly what was charged.

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Stop losing meal receipts and start claiming every business lunch

Meal and entertainment receipts are the most commonly lost business expense. Paper receipts fade, digital ones get buried in inboxes, and by the time you sit down to do expenses you can't remember which lunch was with a client and which was personal. That missing context means missed deductions and messy books.

Snap, send, done

Take a photo of your restaurant receipt or forward the email confirmation. Snyp extracts the venue, date, amount, and VAT automatically.

Add business context instantly

Snyp prompts you to note who you dined with and the business purpose, so your records are HMRC-ready from day one.

Sync to your accounting software

Categorised meal expenses flow directly into Xero or QuickBooks with the correct nominal code. No manual data entry.

Never miss a VAT claim

Snyp reads the VAT breakdown on your receipt so you can reclaim input VAT on qualifying business meals without second-guessing the figures.

Common examples

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Client lunch at a restaurant

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Working dinner with a business partner

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Coffee meeting with a potential supplier

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Team celebration meal

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Subsistence lunch while visiting a client site

Tax tips

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Business entertaining (e.g. taking a client to lunch) is not tax-deductible for corporation tax or income tax purposes, but you can still reclaim the VAT if you have a valid VAT receipt. Check with your accountant on how to categorise these correctly.

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Subsistence meals while travelling for work are generally allowable. HMRC expects the travel to be outside your normal commuting pattern. Keep receipts and note the business reason for the trip.

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Staff entertaining, such as a team Christmas meal, may be exempt up to £150 per head per year under the annual events exemption. Speak to your accountant to make sure you stay within the limits.

Snyp AI extracting line items and VAT from a restaurant receipt

Founding Partner at Strange Ventures

I can't deal with admin. I take a photo, send it to Snyp, and keep going. I don't even check on it. It's just handled.

Tara Tan, Founding Partner at Strange Ventures

Frequently Asked Questions

Stop chasing receipts.

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Features

Automatic Expense Categorisation - Snyp.ai Receipt Scanner

Expenses

Track Domestic Travel Receipts Automatically

Expenses

Track International Travel Receipts Automatically

Who It's For

Receipt Scanning for Freelancers

Integrations

Xero Receipt Scanning with Snyp.ai

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