Buying a laptop to restart dormant company

My limited company is currently dormant. Will buying a company laptop by restarting a business bank account with the intention to restart the business count as active trading (and as such will need to be included in corporation self assessment accounts?), or only when I make income? Or does it count as pre-trading expenditure and should be paid with my personal bank account instead?

Hi GoldApple97,
The expenses are treated as pre-trading expenditure.
Qualifying pre-trading expenditure is treated as incurred on the day on which the trade is first carried on.
It therefore enters into the calculations of the profit or loss for the first year of assessment in which the trade starts and not into periods where there wasn't any activity i.e. that is when you were dormant.
You normally have up to 7 years to claim pre trading expenses before the business begins.   
Thank you. 

 

Hi ok in that case my company is still dormant but I have just opened a business bank account. Should I use my personal bank account or business account to buy the laptop prior to starting to trade?

Hi GoldApple97,
Thank you for your follow up query. Assuming this qualifies as a deduction as a business expense, this would need to be purchased using your business bank account.
Thank you.

What if a business bank account has not been opened, however one is using their own personal finances and personal bank account to pay for pre expenditures towards a dormant business. Would there be an impact even when still needing to file 'losses via a balance sheet' with Companies House; yet have a notification of dormancy with HMRC already with evidence of such registration? It was advised not to open a business account for it would be deemed as trading when not! There will be no corporation tax due for the next 5 years unless notification to HMRC of trading to begin and on what date and year.. Thank you for your time

Hi JAT50*
As with your previous question any company that is active for corporation tax purposes will need to file the return, even if it not trading.
If the company is incurring management/nontrading expenses/losses and you wish to make use of these losses going forward, then you will need to declare these to us.
Corporation tax is Self-assessed so HMRC would not be able to give you a definitive answer on whether this would constitute as activity.
Guidance is available at:
Corporation Tax: trading and non-trading
You will need to determine whether you need to complete a return after consulting the guidance or engaging a financial advisor/accountant to assist.
Thank you