VAT fraud

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lets face it cheques are a relic of a pre-web connected banking system and will fade with the older generations still using them. The easiest and most auditable route is BACS. Both parties safe with no cost.
 
bugbear":3ve05uqs said:
Bear in mind that proof of payment (and/or schedule of work) can be very important in case of a dispute.
BugBear
And, when it comes to builders, very useful when it comes to sell your house... the buyer looks at your brand new conservatory, and asks 'What guarantee/warranty did you get with that?'
 
Ali":1u39vy83 said:
Bit harsh to imply that anyone who receives cash for work is a tax dodger - as someone who works in a trade I would always prefer to be paid in cash.

Cash is king and the feeling of a dodgy cheque or a slippery customer who weasels their way out of paying isn't a nice experience.

acewoodturner":1u39vy83 said:
Quite a few years since I accepted a cheque from a customer, regardless of the amount. Doesn't make me a vat fraudster. I prefer a bacs payment straight into the bank.

Ali, acewoodturner I never said anyone who receives cash for work is a tax dodger or a VAT fraudster, I said 'it's highly likely the payment will not show on his accounts'.

Baldhead
 
Am I naive in thinking that a simple tax system where everyone pays the same should be considered. Maybe do away with income tax and just have a purchase tax.

As you can probably tell I have always been PAYE and am not an economist. :D

Mick
 
Ali":1gft32c2 said:
Bit harsh to imply that anyone who receives cash for work is a tax dodger - as someone who works in a trade I would always prefer to be paid in cash.

Cash is king and the feeling of a dodgy cheque or a slippery customer who weasels their way out of paying isn't a nice experience.

If I implied that I didn't mean to.

I'm a builder and would take a cheque only if no other way. Am always happy to accept cash but would never insist on that method of payment. Most of my invoices are paid via bacs and I do insist that payment is immediate.

If I was to work for a stranger then I would ask for a sizeable deposit upfront and if refused, I'd turn down the job.

Perhaps I am unique in that I don't work for strangers and all of my work is by recommendation or repeat business. I certainly don't avoid tax though I don't like paying it and definitely would pay less if I could as long as legit :)

Bob
 
At the risk of sounding like a do-gooder. Why do people wish to avoid paying their fair contribution to fund the very society which gave them the stability and opportunity to establish their business in the first place? I'll be honest, I've never understood the desire to avoid paying taxes. Having more money...of course, but that's about creating a greater income. To starve the very system which establishes the income opportunity in the first place seems to have slightly missed the point.
 
Random Orbital Bob":1j0nj14e said:
At the risk of sounding like a do-gooder. Why do people wish to avoid paying their fair contribution to fund the very society which gave them the stability and opportunity to establish their business in the first place? I'll be honest, I've never understood the desire to avoid paying taxes. Having more money...of course, but that's about creating a greater income. To starve the very system which establishes the income opportunity in the first place seems to have slightly missed the point.

I feel exactly the same as you Bob but get rather fed up when I see just how much of those taxes are misused, wasted and given to those benefit claimants who have no intention of ever looking for gainful employment.

I don't want to start the usual arguments - they've all been aired before and I am very happy to see the money going to those who need and deserve it but my personal experience proves beyond doubt to me that many are playing the system and very easily to boot.

Bob
 
Lons":3dstikl7 said:
... Perhaps I am unique in that I don't work for strangers and all of my work is by recommendation or repeat business.
...
Bob

It's also useful for the customer to use the same builder time and again too, especially if you've known them for over 30 years.

By then a bit of trust has been built up both ways... and they know how you like your tea :lol:
 
nanscombe":1jbih9qz said:
It's also useful for the customer to use the same builder time and again too, especially if you've known them for over 30 years.

By then a bit of trust has been built up both ways... and they know how you like your tea :lol:

That's how I built my business and my reputation. I have customers who never ask for a price, confident that I'd never rip them off. I get keys left under the mat, posted through my door and often do the work whilst they're away on holiday. :)

I've decided to retire after completing the work I'm already committed to and got a call this morning from a customer I haven't spoken to for a few years. She wants a new kitchen and when I said I'm not accepting any new work, I thought she was going to have a heart attack so I've had to agree to give her a quote - BLOODY HELL #-o

I always take my own kettle, tea and filtered water BTW as I'm a fussy b*gger :D

Bob
 
you sound like the perfect builder Bob :)

I've got a similar team, folks I've met and then retained over the years with my various housing projects. It's the plumbers I keep losing....hens teeth!! But my chippy, spark, painter and "bloke that does everything else" are exactly like you in that they have keys to the house :)
 
It works both ways Bob as I'm sure you know.
The big benefit for me is that I never have a problem getting paid. Only ever had that problem years ago with 2 customers who were very slow, both pretty well heeled, both Scottish, one a senior GP and other MD of a financial advising co. They've asked me to quote a number of times since and I've always refused.
Did have one other guy, financial director for a large house builder who said "I pay my bills at the end of the month". I just told his wife that if I wasn't paid immediately not to ask again and she gave him a slapping. Have been paid on time every time since :lol: :lol:

Most of my customers have become friends which helps and I'm a great believer of "what goes around, comes around" so would always do whatever I can to help people.

Still will be pleased to retire. So much to do - so little time :)

Bob
 
The guy who does my building work summed it up. He said if he passed my house after a storm and there was a hole in the roof and he knew we were on holiday he would fix it and worry about the money afterwards.
All we did for this trust was to pay them weekly on every job and keep them in tea and donuts. :)
 
Lons":3p28y23z said:
I've decided to retire after completing the work I'm already committed to and got a call this morning from a customer I haven't spoken to for a few years. She wants a new kitchen and when I said I'm not accepting any new work, I thought she was going to have a heart attack so I've had to agree to give her a quote - BLOODY HELL #-o

How many years have you been saying your going to retire? :lol:

Lons":3p28y23z said:
Only ever had that problem years ago with 2 customers who were very slow, both pretty well heeled, both Scottish, one a senior GP and other MD of a financial advising co. They've asked me to quote a number of times since and I've always refused.

My late brother-in-law was Scottish, once in the bar at our local he dropped a 50p piece, he was that quick to pick it up it hit him on the back of the head. :lol:

Baldhead
 
"Only ever had that problem years ago with 2 customers who were very slow, both pretty well heeled, both Scottish, one a senior GP and other MD of a financial advising co. They've asked me to quote a number of times since and I've always refused." - Bob.

A friend of my wifes who fitted the bathroom in our last house said he'd only been robbed twice - once by an accountant, and once by a solicitor.
 

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