They say that moving house and getting married are two of the most stressful things that people do in their lives.
Well.....I'd add completing your Self Assessment On-Line Return (and even worse......making the payment!!).
I should be used to it after 8 years of self employment but I hate completing the return with a passion.
Still.........it's done now. I've just finished it and paid up !!
I'm now off to run a few trains (complete with a wee dram of one of my favourite single malts).
Phew!!
Please do not swear on this forum. The words 'Income Tax Return' are deemed highly offensive by many people on this site. :smiley-laughing:
I might join you for a malt!, i opened my payslip the other day and realised how much Tax I paid......For what I ask ??? :o
Just found out that if you wear branded clothing for work (i.e. it has the company name on it) and you have to wash it yourself you can get a tax rebate, it's not a lot but its money you are not paying them.. Even better, if you can prove it, you can back claim for 6 years ;D
More info at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/uniform-tax-rebate (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/uniform-tax-rebate)
one good thing about reaching the big 65, no more national insurance deductions :beers:
that was a nice surprise.
Quote from: Lawrence on January 25, 2012, 08:16:40 PM
Just found out that if you wear branded clothing for work (i.e. it has the company name on it) and you have to wash it yourself you can get a tax rebate, it's not a lot but its money you are not paying them.. Even better, if you can prove it, you can back claim for 6 years ;D
More info at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/uniform-tax-rebate (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/uniform-tax-rebate)
Now THAT deserves a couple of GlenfiddichLivetMorangies (hic!)
Quote from: Lawrence on January 25, 2012, 08:16:40 PM
Just found out that if you wear branded clothing for work (i.e. it has the company name on it) and you have to wash it yourself you can get a tax rebate, it's not a lot but its money you are not paying them.. Even better, if you can prove it, you can back claim for 6 years ;D
More info at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/uniform-tax-rebate (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/uniform-tax-rebate)
I'm trying that Lawrence. :D
Do you think they'll buy the fact I wear a polo shirt with the school logo on (which I had to buy myself) counts as a company logo and is tax deductable?? Mrs Kirky washes it :thumbsup:
On a serious note, I do claim for 'professional subscriptions'. That is, if you pay into a trade body such as a trade union and the inland revenue recognise it, its tax deducatable and they add the value of the subscription to your tax code. The only trouble is you have to tell them every year your subscription goes up, otherwise you only get last years allowance. It all adds up.
BTW, I quite like the Inland Revenue, it pays my wages, which means I get to contribute to the N gauge market place.
Cheers
Kirky
I have a story to tell about income tax returns.Return being a word with more than one meaning for me.
In 2009,I started back as a bus driver.A little background is required here.I worked for the same bus operater as I do now from 1990 to 2005 when I left to start up on my as a self employed plumbing,heating and gas engineer.I did ok in the time I was away from bus driving,however,the last incompetent government did such a great job with the economy that work dried up.So Christmas 2008 was a bit miserable in the Pete Mc house,so I applied for my old job back.Two months later I am back working as a bus driver.Now,for nearly 4 years I payed all my dues and demands as per all the instructions that were given.I informed HMRC that I was no longer self employed and that was that.
I started with my current employer and all was tickety boo in my house.Then in november 2010 I received a letter from HMRC stating I was due a tax refund and it would appear in my wages within two weeks.Now I was thinking that a couple of hundred quid would go a way to setting up my model railway.The week the refund came through I couldn't believe my eyes.I had a refund of just over eight hundred quid.A couple of weeks after was Wigan MRE.I have to say I went completely mad and spent over four hundred quid.After this I thought that was that.A few weeks later,I got another letter from HMRC explaining I was entitled to a tax refund and was invited to apply in writing for whatever amount was due to me,which at the time I didn't know.I duly did this and sent the letter off.I didn't receive any acknowledgement or anything so I dismissed it.
In february last year I got another letter from them two days before the BRM Festival of British Railway Modelling show at Doncaster Racecourse,which our model railway club helps out at doing marshalling etc.The letter outlined how much I was due to get back and the following day I had a cheque for over sixteen hundred quid arrive.
It turned out that when I started back with my current employer,no tax details were exchanged and as a self employed worker,I had no P60 or P45 to give them so I was paying tax at basic rate or as it appeared on my payslip BR.The last time I remembered it being called emergency tax.As you can imagine,I was a very happy bunny at this and have spent some but not all of it.
This was a pain free experience for me and as I now have a stable tax code I worked out I was paying over twenty six quid a week over the odds in tax without knowing.Just shows that not everyone has bad experiences with HMRC,and this was at a time when people were receiving further tax demands from years back due to mistakes the HMRC had made.
Pete
:Class37: :NGaugersRule:
Quote from: kirky on January 25, 2012, 09:23:37 PM
Quote from: Lawrence on January 25, 2012, 08:16:40 PM
Just found out that if you wear branded clothing for work (i.e. it has the company name on it) and you have to wash it yourself you can get a tax rebate, it's not a lot but its money you are not paying them.. Even better, if you can prove it, you can back claim for 6 years ;D
More info at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/uniform-tax-rebate (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/uniform-tax-rebate)
I'm trying that Lawrence. :D
Do you think they'll buy the fact I wear a polo shirt with the school logo on (which I had to buy myself) counts as a company logo and is tax deductable?? Mrs Kirky washes it :thumbsup:
On a serious note, I do claim for 'professional subscriptions'. That is, if you pay into a trade body such as a trade union and the inland revenue recognise it, its tax deducatable and they add the value of the subscription to your tax code. The only trouble is you have to tell them every year your subscription goes up, otherwise you only get last years allowance. It all adds up.
BTW, I quite like the Inland Revenue, it pays my wages, which means I get to contribute to the N gauge market place.
Cheers
Kirky
First line of the article Kirky
If you wear a uniform to work - whether just simple polo shirt with a logo on it, ;D
If the wee dram is essential for your health and safety when doing the tax return, and doing the tax return is essential for your employment... then is the wee dram tax-deductable too?
Quote from: Lawrence on January 25, 2012, 09:54:06 PM
First line of the article Kirky If you wear a uniform to work - whether just simple polo shirt with a logo on it, ;D
Yeah, and the second line says
your employer requires you to wear it :thumbsdown:
Quote from: edwin_m on January 25, 2012, 09:59:33 PM
If the wee dram is essential for your health and safety when doing the tax return, and doing the tax return is essential for your employment... then is the wee dram tax-deductable too?
Only if you wash it (down) yourself ;D
I feel a wee whisky moment coming on.....mmmmmm ::)
Kirky
Edit; sorry its a LARGE whisky moment
Ah yes the joy of income tax returns. The bit I hate the most is fishing out every order copy and all the postage receipts and the paypal fees and putting the numbers in order. That is a right pain when you find some postage receipt has mysterious absconded and hidden itself six months later in the pile.
On the bright side you get the bill at the end of the year so you can stick the money owed into premium bonds until then and maybe win something 8)
Alan
I chicken out and pay an accountant to do it. Thankfully their fee (which isn't too bad, really) comes off the next years tax bill as an expense.
I'd love to get a rebate, though, well done Pete ;D ;D
Quote from: EtchedPixels on January 26, 2012, 01:45:42 PM
Ah yes the joy of income tax returns. The bit I hate the most is fishing out every order copy and all the postage receipts and the paypal fees and putting the numbers in order. That is a right pain when you find some postage receipt has mysterious absconded and hidden itself six months later in the pile.
On the bright side you get the bill at the end of the year so you can stick the money owed into premium bonds until then and maybe win something 8)
Alan
That's what I pay my Book Keeper for, I do the basic stuff on a weekly basis, :computersmile:, he gets my books in May of each year and sorts out the problems, and roots out the things I can claim for but haven't. He saves me money, and of course his fees are tax deductible! ;D.
Stress free tax year because I know my bill and how much I need to put aside by the end of May.
Jack
ps I no goodie goodie, my book keeper advised me to do my daily/weekly accounts to keep his bill down as well as my stress levels.
Quote from: Lawrence on January 25, 2012, 08:16:40 PM
Just found out that if you wear branded clothing for work (i.e. it has the company name on it) and you have to wash it yourself you can get a tax rebate, it's not a lot but its money you are not paying them.. Even better, if you can prove it, you can back claim for 6 years ;D
More info at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/uniform-tax-rebate (http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/uniform-tax-rebate)
Apologies for quoting myself but a wee update, a female colleague of mine sent her letter in 3 weeks ago, she has just had a cheque back for £66 - that was for last year, they are now checking the 5 years prior to see what she is entitled to, and they have changed her tax code to compensate from now on :thumbsup:
Last year I was one of the unfortunates who got a letter saying I had underpaid by £480 and it would be collected by changing my tax code. "OK - fair cop" I thought. Now I have another letter stating that because my tax code hadn't been altered I now owe £900.
And this from the stupid kn**heads who are supposed to inform my employer what my tax code is >:( :computerangry:
i think you need a wee dram after that nobby! :o
Mark
Quote from: scruff on January 26, 2012, 09:06:14 PM
i think you need a wee dram after that nobby! :o
Mark
The second one is sat next to me at this very moment :beers:
Talking of wee drams.
I'm very partial to a wee dram of an evening.
What are people's favourites amongst single malts ?
As a starter I particularly like Ledaig and Aberlour.
Actually, I don't drink Whisky despite comments to the contrary :evil:
Brown beer or red wine for me
Quote from: port perran on January 26, 2012, 09:41:49 PM
Talking of wee drams.
I'm very partial to a wee dram of an evening.
What are people's favourites amongst single malts ?
As a starter I particularly like Ledaig and Aberlour.
The Macallan - I love it, but Mrs Kirky hasn't bought me any for ages, so I'm drinking (or will be about ten seconds after I press 'POST') Famous Grouse. It'll do.
Kirky
Quote from: Lawrence on January 26, 2012, 09:44:16 PM
Brown beer or red wine for me
Me too Lawrence, though very occasionally I can be persuaded to a Lagavulin (tastes like diesel oil and peat, but is exquisite).
Lagavulin is my fave, sank a few after our Haggis dinner on wednesday night :P
Actually Kirky, although the blended whiskies are generally frowned upon I find Famous Grouse to be the best and only drinkable blend - Bells, Teachers & Johnnie Walker are more akin to paint stripper! :-X
Paul
I'm with Lawrence: brown beer and red wine.
Oh...., and white wine and pink wine.
When abroad in warmer climes and proper beer isn't available, I will drink pee-coloured fizzy beer. There is no excuse for doing so in the UK, however. Proper beer is never that far away (even up here in Scotland).
Beer - must be real ale.
Whisky - Glenfiddich, Laphroaig and Glen Livet
Whiskey - Bushmills Black Bush
Lager - can tolerate only Stella or Kronenburg
Also am very partial to Southern Comfort or Baileys.
Definitely NO ice in anything :beers:
Quote from: newportnobby on January 27, 2012, 12:38:19 PM
Beer - must be real ale. Can't Drink Beer-Makes me ill
Whisky - Glenfiddich, Laphroaig and Glen LivetSee Below
Whiskey - Bushmills Black BushPrefer a nice drop of Jack Daniels Single Barrel but will drink most Bourbons including Wild Turkey :thumbsup:
Lager - can tolerate only Stella or Kronenburg As first line
Also am very partial to Southern Comfort or Baileys.Southern Comfort, Capt.Morgans, :thumbsup:
Definitely NO ice in anything :beers:
Can we claim any as valid expenses :beers:
Quote from: newportnobby
Beer - must be real ale. Damn right!
Whisky - Glenfiddich, Laphroaig and Glen Livet Lagavulin, Jura, Grouse at a push
Lager - can tolerate only Stella or Kronenburg Stella. Tsingtao with a chinese or Cobra with a curry
Also am very partial to Southern Comfort or Baileys. Mead, schnapps (not that artificial peach stuff though!) or any liqueurs to satisfy my sweet tooth ;D
Definitely NO ice in anything :beers:
Amen to that! A wise Sctosman once told me "the only thing you put in a good Scotch whisky is MORE whisky" :P
Paul
Just had a wee look at Sprintex.net - lovely layout, mate. :beers:
Would fit just nicely in my loft.
Ooh ta :)
Would fit nicely in my loft too, but then I'd never get it out again to exhibit it when it's finished ;D Bogged down with muchos wiring at the moment but hopefully will get going on the scenics later this year ;)
Paul
Quote from: tadpole on January 27, 2012, 09:44:41 AM
I will drink pee-coloured fizzy beer.
Ugggh! One of the few substances on earth that is unchanged by passing through the human body! I might rather drink pee! :smiley-laughing:
Quote from: newportnobby on January 27, 2012, 12:38:19 PM
Also am very partial to Southern Comfort or Baileys.
Definitely NO ice in anything :beers:
Yes, and yes! :beers:
To hell with the tax return topic - let's stick with the booze :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing: :beers:
Quote from: newportnobby on January 26, 2012, 08:49:15 PM
Last year I was one of the unfortunates who got a letter saying I had underpaid by £480 and it would be collected by changing my tax code. "OK - fair cop" I thought. Now I have another letter stating that because my tax code hadn't been altered I now owe £900.
And this from the stupid kn**heads who are supposed to inform my employer what my tax code is >:( :computerangry:
They are and because of that you can stick the form in and challenge it as unreasonable, and you use words like "negligence" in your letter to the taxman. The form you want is ESC A19. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/esc/esc.htm (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/esc/esc.htm)
and always appeal it to a second officer if they rubber stamp refuse it the first time, as you are entitled to do so.