Expenses & costs
Refereeing isn't free. Petrol, kit, registration fees, insurance, equipment — it all adds up. The Expenses module lets you log every cost so you know your true net income, and have clean records for your tax return.
Expense categories
Every expense is assigned a category. This lets you see at a glance where your money goes and makes it easier to separate allowable business expenses for tax purposes.
Note: Petrol and Transport are mutually exclusive — set your preference in Settings.
How to log an expense
Open Expenses → Add expense
From the app navigation go to Expenses and tap + Add expense.
Fill in the details
Enter the date, category, description, and amount. Optionally add a supplier and any notes. For petrol you might add the number of miles; for kit you might note the item bought.
Date
Category
Description
Amount
Supplier
Receipt
Save — it appears in Reporting
The expense is saved and immediately deducted from your net income in the Reporting section. You can view, edit, or delete any expense from the Expenses list at any time.
How expenses appear in reporting
The Reporting section shows your gross income (match fees + tournaments) and your total expenses side by side. The net figure is what matters for your self-assessment tax return.
Tips for accurate expense tracking
Log petrol costs on match day
Add the fuel expense right after logging the match. You know the mileage from the match form — multiply by your per-mile fuel rate (HMRC's approved rate for cars is 45p/mile up to 10,000 miles).
Keep a season-start expense entry
At the start of each season, log one-off costs like FA registration, county subscription, and new kit as separate expenses. These are easy to forget at tax time.
Attach receipts as you go
Take a photo of kit receipts, course receipts, and insurance certificates when you get them. Uploading immediately means you'll have them when you need them in January.
Use the Notes field for context
For physio or training, note what it was for. 'Hamstring physio — injury sustained refereeing Nov 2025' is more useful than just 'Physio' when you're completing your self-assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Petrol or Transport as my travel category?
Use whichever matches your travel method. In Settings you can choose between Petrol (for car travel, tracking fuel spend) and Transport (for public transport, taxis, etc.). Only one will show in your expense form — the other is hidden to keep the form clean. You can change your preference in Settings → Travel expense method.
Are expenses deducted from my earnings in reports?
Yes. In the Reporting section, your total expenses for the period are shown alongside your total income. The difference gives you your net refereeing income — the figure most relevant for self-assessment tax returns.
Can I attach a receipt?
Yes. The expense form has a receipt upload field where you can attach a photo or PDF of your receipt. This is stored securely and is useful for HMRC if you're ever asked to substantiate a claim.
What is a supplier?
Suppliers are businesses you regularly spend money with — a kit manufacturer, your county FA, a petrol station chain. Adding a supplier to an expense keeps your records tidy and lets you see your spend per supplier in reports.
Can I filter expenses by season?
Yes. The expense list can be filtered by season. In Reporting, expenses are shown for whichever period you select — current season, this tax year, last tax year, or all time.