Need advice

Warpa

I have been in contact with my accountant about this, he is one very sharp chap and knows the system but will never break the rules, a pain to some, but i prefer to stay on the right side of the law.

When i spoke to the CSA they told me there is no place to take my financial commitments into account, was this just another drone working there? When my accountant has my new books up to date and a full break down on expenditure how do i let the csa know if they allegedly have no means to alter things.

I dont mind paying for my children as most men/women dont if only the child saw the benefit, as it works out my 16 yo gets £50 pw from me, £30 pw EMA, £20 from child allowance, plus my x child tax relief, thats well over £100 to feed and cloth her. Pensioners would love to recieve that kind of money.

I think what really irritates me is how flawed the system is, people like my x that can work full time (16 yo and 19 yo) do the minimum hours to claim full support in benefits, the only good thing is that it will all run out for her in 2 years. I have asked for my girls to live with me time and time again, but she wont allow it, all i can do is give them a decent meal at the weekends.

Most of the above is irrelevant on this board, im just trying to paint a picture...can you tell what it is yet:D

DX2

Warpa wrote: »

Most of the above is irrelevant on this board, im just trying to paint a picture...can you tell what it is yet:D

Yeah a PWC bashing v a NRP woe is me. You have been dealing with the CSA for a year suck it up hardly as if you really have that much longer to deal with them.

kelloggs36

Warpa wrote: »

I have been in contact with my accountant about this, he is one very sharp chap and knows the system but will never break the rules, a pain to some, but i prefer to stay on the right side of the law.

When i spoke to the CSA they told me there is no place to take my financial commitments into account, was this just another drone working there? Under CS2 no, there is nothing else to give you - you take your gross pre-tax profits, deduct tax and NI and any pension contributions and you pay the fixed % on what is left - very simple. It doesn't matter what you feel is fair or not, if that is how it has been calculated, then it is correctWhen my accountant has my new books up to date and a full break down on expenditure how do i let the csa know if they allegedly have no means to alter things.

I dont mind paying for my children as most men/women dont if only the child saw the benefit, as it works out my 16 yo gets £50 pw from me, £30 pw EMA, £20 from child allowance, plus my x child tax relief, thats well over £100 to feed and cloth her. Pensioners would love to recieve that kind of money.

I think what really irritates me is how flawed the system is, people like my x that can work full time (16 yo and 19 yo) do the minimum hours to claim full support in benefits, the only good thing is that it will all run out for her in 2 years. I have asked for my girls to live with me time and time again, but she wont allow it, all i can do is give them a decent meal at the weekends.

Most of the above is irrelevant on this board, im just trying to paint a picture...can you tell what it is yet:D

...............................................................................

bdt1

Maybe you need to look at advice from an alternative accountant, I know you say yours is sharp, but if you are struggling this much, surely from a business point there must be some scope to offset expenses versus profitable income. My hubs is self-employed and yes the recession is hitting businesses very hard (as it is also parents), but if the business isn't viable and you are struggling to keep afloat, I would consider your options.......just my opinion

FBaby

£400 a month is not that massive to bring up a 16 year old. I would feel sorry for her is all she is entitled to is to be fed and clothed. I do feel for you, working really hard trying to make ends meet whilst your ex seems to get a lot of support from tax payers and enjoy a better life working less. But remember that this is not about your ex but about your daughter. You say yourself that your relationship with her is becoming tense. You are being ask to contribute half for her care (which is reasonable), yet you give her the message that you don't think she deserves that from you (that's how a 16 yo will interpret it). What is unfair is that your ex doesn't contribute the other 50% on her own.

In the end, you are fighting for the next two years, risking to alienate yourself from your daughter for much longer. It's not worth it. Even if you struggle badly for another 2 years, it is worth doing it for your daughter, who even if she doesn't appreciate your sacrifices to its due value then, will definitely do when she starts earning her own money.

PlayingHardball

FBaby, I agree.

OP....you pay £200 per month. That doesn't sound excessive to me. As you rightly say, the ex's days are numbered as far as receiving free tax payer handouts. Whilst you are working hard, you will only be rewarded by this in your hard work and determination to succeed.

I admire you for not wanting to find loopholes with your accountant, like so many other self employed do! (I'll withhold names!). I find that highly admirable and I believe that with that attitude, you'll not only end up with a great relationship with your daughters, but you will also succeed in your business.

Keep supporting her, even if £200 is hard to swallow. I wish that was all I had to pay for my daughter (I'm PWC, no support from Dad)

Warpa

DX2 wrote: »

Yeah a PWC bashing v a NRP woe is me. You have been dealing with the CSA for a year suck it up hardly as if you really have that much longer to deal with them.

2 years is 2 years, if already on the breadline;) I dont know what PWC is and guess NRP is non resident parent? Ill bide my time and work more hours if need be it just means both girls will suffer as i wont have the available income i did, gone will be the 'dad can i have some money to go into town' now it will be ask your mother:mad:

My family always buy them both things, the eldest was put through her driving lessons and test by my family, the youngest is supposed to be getting the same, not to mention the clothes and fivers handed out here and there, they are slightly bitter that there is no give with my x, none of us want her to get her own way, but none of us want my girls to suffer:(

I guess we will all bite our tongues for 2 years for their sakes.

DX2

PWC = Parent with care