You should ensure that a system is in place to keep records of all your candidate spending so that you can report it after the election. Election agents are responsible for reporting spending after the election.
What you need to record
For each item of spending, you should record the following information to include in your spending return after the election:
what the spending was for – for example, leaflets or advertising
the name and address of the supplier
the amount or value
the date that you spent the money
You must keep invoices or receipts for any payments of £20 or over.1
If you have paid VAT on an item, you must include this when reporting the costs of the item in your return. You must still include VAT even if it can be reclaimed as a business expense.
Invoices for payments made to companies based overseas may not always include VAT. If you have paid VAT, you should include this as part of the cost of the item when reporting, even if VAT is not included on the invoice.
It may be helpful for the agent to also keep copies of each example of campaign material (such as letters or leaflets) used in case there is a need to refer back to it.
You must also record details of spending where:
you make use of items that have been provided to you
you authorise spending to be incurred by someone else