MYSTERY SHOPPING THREAD 18 - please don't mention client names or fees on here!!

Tarasam

yonk wrote: »

HMRC can be quite random with their payments on account. It's what they anticipate you will earn next year and it's often worth giving them a ring if you don't expect the same level of earnings next year.

Its not random, if your tax liability is greater than £1000 then you have to make Payments on account.

cheekychipmunk

StacFace wrote: »

It means you can't have done any MS assignments in that location for either them or another MS company in the last 4 months. E.g. you can't accept one where you have to spend in cafe & petrol and then apply for one in the phone tech departement a couple of months later.

Not sure that's completely true - the VAS system let me pick up a phone/tech visit two months after I did a main shop visit in the same store

Unless it's changed since last summer.....

Tarasam

mysteryshoppingninja wrote: »

Anyone doing their first return I personally find it easier to run in whole months so I would have done 1st April 09 tp 31st March 10. This is fine with the revenue. Five days does not really concern them but don't switch from year to year.

Mimi PM me if u want will try to help you out

My proper job is working for the tax office in the PAYE/SA dept so am pleased to help anyone.

Tarasam

lalli_pickle wrote: »

First things first, have a look through what the accountant's sent you and check that it agrees with what you gave them, especially as the tax was higher than expected. If you have a spreadsheet for income and expenditure then check the return to this.

Payments on account are usually made in January and July. The January one will be made up of 2 figures:

1. The amount of tax due for the 09/10 tax year £x
2. Half of the amount HMRC think is due for the 10/11 tax year £y/2

You will then pay £y/2 again in July meaning that by January 2012 you should have paid £y ie all the tax due.

However as £y is based on what you earnt in 09/10, if you earnt more (or less) in 10/11 you will either have underpaid (or overpaid tax) which is called a balancing payment £x

Bit long winded but does that help?

But dont forget you can reduce your payments on account for the next year IF your income has reduced for the next year. But be careful doing this as HMRC can charge interest if you reduce them too far.

StacFace

cheekychipmunk wrote: »

Not sure that's completely true - the VAS system let me pick up a phone/tech visit two months after I did a main shop visit in the same store

Unless it's changed since last summer.....

Hmm, I tried it in November and it wouldn't let me after 3 months and 27 days

Maybe it depends on how urgent the job is? The one I applied for in November hadn't been up long.

borders

cheekychipmunk wrote: »

Not sure that's completely true - the VAS system let me pick up a phone/tech visit two months after I did a main shop visit in the same store

Unless it's changed since last summer.....

I've done that quite often. Next month I have a phone visit and a main shop visit in the same store on the same day. First time that I've managed that.

cheekychipmunk

StacFace wrote: »

Hmm, I tried it in November and it wouldn't let me after 3 months and 27 days

Maybe it depends on how urgent the job is? The one I applied for in November hadn't been up long.

Wasn't urgent - nabbed the job not long after it had appeared on the board! Maybe it depends on the number of shoppers they have in certain areas? Don't think my area is overcrowded with MSers. That's the only reason I can think of at the mo....

s-a-h-

Monkeynut wrote: »

Re the Helion Audits, I still can't see them, so I must not be the right profile (age, gender etc??) so can't say how easy or not they might be. But if you want to start doing Audits, then you have to do your first one sometime, and I would say doing it for a company like Helion might be good as they ar approachable and friendly.

I can't see the job if I put in my postcode either. If I search the whole of the UK it comes up.
Thanks for the help all, I have just applied, so will give it a whirl if they want me.

yonk

kellyshay wrote: »

Its not random, if your tax liability is greater than £1000 then you have to make Payments on account.

It's felt quite random lately. Plus we got a demand for £2.5 k that wasn't right and a quick phonecall confirmed that. Not MS'ing this tho.

I think what I'm saying is if his income is a lot lower in the future to talk to HMRC, but you will know way better than me.

forestroxydog

Hi All

Sorry to ask yet another tax question but last one from me I promise.
How does the benefit part of the tax return. For eg I have done a food shop to spend x and got x reimbursed but do I need to declare that as a benefit as I have eaten the food?
Also sort of the same if I purchased a computer game or brought Fuel are these benefits?
Thanks in advance x