acceptable payment to spouse book keeper

[mmoalem]

hi there all -
My wife is a trained book keeper but has been out of work looking after our little one for the last couple of years - i am self employed and usually do my own book keeping as they are very simple but wondered as to paying her to do it to reduce the tax bill.
what i would like to know is what would be an acceptable payment for my wife - can i pay her more than the going rate for book keeping? can i also pay her as a PA and what would i need to show to the tax man against such claimes - any ideas on the issue?
cheers
michel

[RAL]

You need to pay going rate to your wife. if you not sure ring recruitment agency and find out. Have a look at job vacancy in local area may give you some idea.