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

jen_br

kate1 wrote: »

Hi everyone i'm new here and have recently signed up and been accepted for a number of mystery shopper sites.

Im worried however when it comes to filling in a tax return. I've read quite a bit on this thread and also previous ones and this site has helped me immensly so far so thanks very much for that

the question I have is about reimbursements. Say I am paid a fee of £10 for doing a job but then I have to buy a meal for £20 that I will be reimbursed for does that £20 also get taxed and would I need to include it on a tax return? obviously the £20 would have paid for my food... very confused on this matter and I can't seem to find the answer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks very much

Kate

record it as income and then when your listing your expenses you can claim for the meal... as you have a reciept.

If you are unsure which one will benefit you the most I would ring the Tax information line Self employed helpline they are very friendly

At the moment im just writing up a FAQ for Self ASsesment as Ihad an overwhelming response to people wanting help

misssarahleigh

kate1 wrote: »

Hi everyone i'm new here and have recently signed up and been accepted for a number of mystery shopper sites.

Im worried however when it comes to filling in a tax return. I've read quite a bit on this thread and also previous ones and this site has helped me immensly so far so thanks very much for that

the question I have is about reimbursements. Say I am paid a fee of £10 for doing a job but then I have to buy a meal for £20 that I will be reimbursed for does that £20 also get taxed and would I need to include it on a tax return? obviously the £20 would have paid for my food... very confused on this matter and I can't seem to find the answer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks very much

Kate

I think this is a slightly debated point. You would show the £10 + £20 and then the cost of the food. I believe last time we spoke about this, most people said the £20 was not taxable as this money was used as part of the job and the job could not have been done without spending it (if that makes sence)

The other argument would be, but that save's you money as you do not have to purcahse your tea.

It's also slightly different when doing say, a book shop. £5 fee plus £5 reinbursment. Some people believe the £5 reinbursment should be taxable as your buying a product for 'your' benifit.

I Hope this is making sense.

I personally believe anything i buy on a mystery shop should not be tax deductable. I have to purchase the item for the job and regardless of whether it's something i want/like i could not have done the job without purchasing the item.

kate1_2

thanks very much for your help. I'm stressing a bit about it all. :eek:
If I do just decide to not include it in my income could I get into trouble. I personally don't see it as income as I have to have the meal as a part of the job so naturally they will reimburse me for it. (however what I see as income and what IR do are two different things)

Again thanks so much for your help

kate

jen_br

Well section 10 on your tax return "Cost of goods bought for resale or goods used"

This is where I would list the reimbursements you get, and its not taxable per say anyway it helps you as its an expense.
I am on the phone now with them for exact clairification as I believe I am right about this.. but to make sure.





And yes if HMRC consider it income and you don't delcare you are going to get in trouble!!

scubaangel

jen_br wrote: »

I got React, GFK, Grassroots.

Noticed RE says now its the 10th.. well all my payments moved to the 10th spot

Also, anyone get esa?

Looks like my RE payment has been sent on time, hope yours sorts itself out soon!

Also just picked up a nice easy one to do on my way home from work this evening, as well as a pub lunch on a day when I'm out in that town anyway - can't believe how short dated they are these days - RE used to have them up a week or so in advance didnt they?

jen_br

Actually looks like my RE has JUST gone through!

kate1_2

misssarahleigh -

I completely understand what you're saying and agree with you.

So what I will do is in my log book put down earnngs as £10 + £20

but then on my expenses bit put £20 for food? Is this right? Sorry for sounding completely dumb I just want to make sure I'm doing it right.

Thanks for your patience.

Kate

jen_br

kate1 wrote: »

misssarahleigh -

I completely understand what you're saying and agree with you.

So what I will do is in my log book put down earnngs as £10 + £20

but then on my expenses bit put £20 for food? Is this right? Sorry for sounding completely dumb I just want to make sure I'm doing it right.

Thanks for your patience.

Kate

Kate just got off the phone with HRMC, and Sarah is incorrect. Like I said you need to claim these reimbursements and they go under your allowable expenses.

Therefore your INCOME would be 30.00 and then under allowable expenses it would be 20.00. Since you are earning under 68,000 you don't need to break down your expenses however you must be able to produce such evidence as required.

You just need to put all expenses in box 19

*** the only time you would NOT record the expense is if you had to send the product back i.e Tshirt shoes etc **

jen_br

misssarahleigh wrote: »

I think this is a slightly debated point. You would show the £10 + £20 and then the cost of the food. I believe last time we spoke about this, most people said the £20 was not taxable as this money was used as part of the job and the job could not have been done without spending it (if that makes sence)

The other argument would be, but that save's you money as you do not have to purcahse your tea.

It's also slightly different when doing say, a book shop. £5 fee plus £5 reinbursment. Some people believe the £5 reinbursment should be taxable as your buying a product for 'your' benifit.

I Hope this is making sense.

I personally believe anything i buy on a mystery shop should not be tax deductable. I have to purchase the item for the job and regardless of whether it's something i want/like i could not have done the job without purchasing the item.

If only the world worked this way LOL, but you do need to write down all expenses including reimbursements!

squidgeum

mysterious_girl wrote: »

Ring GfK. You should have a phone number on one of your briefing notes or coversheets. They are really nice and helpful. I have worked for them for over 3 years and have never had a payment problem so it's not something that happens all the time. It must have just got lost along the way with it being an urgent assignment.

Thanks for your reply. I have rung them and spoken to the help desk instead of leaving a message on the pay departments answerphone. Hopefully she will sort it out and get back to me.