MYSTERY SHOPPING THREAD XV - please, no mention of client names or fees on here

Lil_Me_2

s-a-h- wrote: »

I have not got a camera phone so have been turning down jobs requiring pictures of the shop. Would it be too risky using my normal digital camera?

No, not at all. You generally do it at the end of it and as long as you're fairly discreet then you should be fine. I know others on here use their cameras.

galaxynicole

glitterkandy wrote: »

Well, if they do an audit you have to provide bank statements, so if you pay by card...

Though it doesn't say the time that you went, just the date on your bank statement so you could have gone back later on (walking) or someone gave you a lift into town so the bus ticket would have been solely used for the mystery shop job.

misssarahleigh

I think the point of the matter is, as per usual, the tax man comes after you with stupid rules for squeezing that extra penny out of your purse but massive coperations get away with tax evasion into the millions daily lol:T

Angelfeathers

galaxynicole wrote: »

Though it doesn't say the time that you went, just the date on your bank statement so you could have gone back later on (walking) or someone gave you a lift into town so the bus ticket would have been solely used for the mystery shop job.

Exactly what I was going to say. I assume they couldn't ask for your Tesco receipt (which would of course have the time on it) so just from a bank statement they couldn't tell what time it was, or even necessarily what day it was, since they usually take a day or two to come through anyway.

borders

glitterkandy wrote: »

I'd check with the taxman- when claiming for fuel the example I was given was that if you were taking business expenses to the bank you could claim, but if whilst you were there you stopped in Tesco's for a loaf of bread, then you couldn't claim it. I'd guess the rules are the same for public transport.

Interesting. I can see what you mean.

I'm picking up my daughter from the airport tomorrow. I've got a job to do in that area beforehand. I was just going to claim the usual costs and make an official 'loss' on it. Quite a big loss. I thought it would help keep the tax down. But maybe not. Possibly just claim for the mileage from the airport to the job and back?

I can accept that one as it's a journey I would be making anyway. But sometimes I see a job at the seaside. Have an ice cream and a walk on the beach. Have a day out. I'm only there because I had the job. Wouldn't go without the work. Fill in my mileage and I've made a loss. Again it helps keep my tax down. Is that one wrong?

I've not done my tax return yet. I had planned to make an appointment with the taxman to check I was doing it right. I was going to ask these questions then, but if someone already knows the answer...?

Angelfeathers

Interestingly, I haven't been claiming for mileage when I'm doing jobs in town in my lunch hour. I consider there's a really big reason I'm there anyway. But for a trip that was at least equally made for MS as for other reasons, I'm claiming.

Obviously, I only started MSing this financial year so I haven't had to submit a tax return yet.

mimi1234

s-a-h- wrote: »

There was a job showing like this for me this morning. I clicked on the contact us on the right hand side of the page and asked what the date for the job was. Within 5 mins, the job had been corrected, I did not get a message back myself though.

OMG! This just happened with the one I wanted too. Not impressed. Boo. Hoo. Hoo.

Lil_Me_2

borders wrote: »

Interesting. I can see what you mean.

I'm picking up my daughter from the airport tomorrow. I've got a job to do in that area beforehand. I was just going to claim the usual costs and make an official 'loss' on it. Quite a big loss. I thought it would help keep the tax down. But maybe not. Possibly just claim for the mileage from the airport to the job and back?

I can accept that one as it's a journey I would be making anyway. But sometimes I see a job at the seaside. Have an ice cream and a walk on the beach. Have a day out. I'm only there because I had the job. Wouldn't go without the work. Fill in my mileage and I've made a loss. Again it helps keep my tax down. Is that one wrong?

I've not done my tax return yet. I had planned to make an appointment with the taxman to check I was doing it right. I was going to ask these questions then, but if someone already knows the answer...?

I believe some get away with long journeys that make an official loss as they argue that it was a favour for the company and it was in their best interests overall to do that one job that makes a loss. I suppose it depends just how much of a loss it is and whether you feel you could argue the toss should you be questioned.

However unless you're being audited I don't believe that you fill in individual jobs onto your tax return so on first glance unless you make a loss overall they probably wouldn't know. (I haven't done one yet either......must do that soon).

jen_br

Hi as someone who has done tax returns for a few years now here is how my accountant and i do mileage..

I have a log and i keep my mileage writen down for example...

I go from Home to Job A then B then back home its a total of 40 miles I claim the 40 miles at the rate of mileage.

BUT if i go from Home to JOb A then B then to the hair dressers then home and its 30 miles for business 10 miles for personal... I claim 30 miles.

The tax man DOESN'T go as far as to look into reciepts from tesco I was audited my first year all they did was make sure I could back up what I claimed... they dont really ask for bank statements...

So there you go. Just keep all your recipets and keep a mileage log this will avoid confusion

Im not saying that I fudge mileage at all because that would be wrong *shifty eyes*

jen_br

If anyone wants to know how needs to see how to fill in a tax return i will scan mine for you... and no you don't fill in each job you put INCOME from all jobs... expenses *its broken down into sections* and then TOTAL loss or profit for the year.