What constitutes running a business from home?

[mr dj]

I run a small business. I have a mobile shop which is a sprinter van. I park the van at home in the evening and weekends. I keep my paperwork at home aswell as a very small amount of stock. I do not use a dedicated room for my work. I have a desk and a laptop in the dining room with a filing cabinet. My contact number for my business is a mobile number.I never have customers visiting my home, nor do I ever have deliveries there. Although my business letters do come to my home. My VAT number is registered at my home as it has to be registered somewhere.Because my van is my mobile shop I see that as my business. So I ask the question. Am I running a business from home?

[mormess]

I think that it's the dedicated room that makes a different tax wise. It depends on why you're asking - for tax reasons I imagine? If the business, or you as a sole trader, is registered to your home address, then I guess you are running a business from home. If you're a limited company and it's registered to your home address, then you're definately running it from home.

If it's for mortgage or rent purposes - if you haven't got customers coming to your house, I'm sure you're allowed under a domestic mortgage or rent agreement to run a business at home. I've worked from home before as a journalist and there didn't seem to be any problems.

I can't give professional advice but this is what I've gathered over the years. I guess other answers would depend on why you're asking.

I hope your business is booming!

[THAIBUS]

You are not running you business from home you are running it from your Mobile Van, however if you store food in the van and at home you should inform the local enviromental health office. However it is best not to have any deliverys at home and take your van to another location to get your stock.