Builder not VAT registered - Is he dodgy?

docmatt

ahfh1 wrote: »

Hi,

I'm on the lookout for a builder. One of them says he is not VAT registered. Is he dodgy and should I not consider using him?

Cheers

Just because he is not VAT reg doesn't mean he is dodgy. You should make the appropriate checks to the quality of his work which is far more important to wether he is vat reg or not.

Inactive

Alan_M wrote: »

I get monkey's like this in my business every day.

It now costs us more to take cash than to accept payment by debit card, or bank transfer.

I'm not about to commit tax fraud to save anyone a couple of pounds, don't assume any decent builder will either.

Your loss, there are plenty that will.

Oh and do you describe all of your customers as " monkeys "?

baldelectrician

Inactive wrote: »

Your loss, there are plenty that will.

Oh and do you describe all of your customers as " monkeys "?

I'm not vat registered, but my turnover is well below the vat threashold.

A builder, on the other hand is unlikely to be lower than the vat treshold as a standard garage conversion starts at £8000, and may take 2 weeks.

You get rogue customers and rogue builders. Be very aware of someone who insists on cash only.

I take credit / debit card payments and it makes life a lot easier. I prefer this .

ormus

as above. a builder can be non vat registered, and they maybe legit or dodgy.
but any decent builder doing large jobs, extensions etc... would surely be registered.

it all depends on what you want doing? horses for courses etc...

sunshinetours

Inactive wrote: »

Your loss, there are plenty that will.

Oh and do you describe all of your customers as " monkeys "?

I would imagine only the dodgy ones who ask you to commit tax evasion. Do you think its correct to evade tax then?


We have deregistered several small property and construction sector businesses this year for the first time as it will give them a 20% competitive advantage on residential work. Many of them also ask customers to buy their own materials on larger jobs

Also as others have mentioned there is nothjing wrong with two builders woirking independently having their own business and billing you separately which would keep them under the VAT registration threshold (currently £70k)

The deregistration threshold is £68k currently

Cash isn't always king funnily enough - many fail to see the bigger picture and end up far worsse off

Alan_M_2

Inactive wrote: »

Your loss, there are plenty that will.

Oh and do you describe all of your customers as " monkeys "?

Nope, just the ones that expect people to commit VAT fraud on their behalf and genuinely get upset when we won't, there is absolutely no upside for us whatsoever.

I'm sure MSE is delighted that it's forum members are openly promoting tax evasion / VAT Fraud...shall we ask Martin.....I thought not.

Alan_M_2

sunshinetours wrote: »

I would imagine only the dodgy ones who ask you to commit tax evasion. Do you think its correct to evade tax then?


We have deregistered several small property and construction sector businesses this year for the first time as it will give them a 20% competitive advantage on residential work. Many of them also ask customers to buy their own materials on larger jobs

Also as others have mentioned there is nothjing wrong with two builders woirking independently having their own business and billing you separately which would keep them under the VAT registration threshold (currently £70k)

The deregistration threshold is £68k currently

Cash isn't always king funnily enough - many fail to see the bigger picture and end up far worsse off

Nothing in the slightest wrong with avoidance...it's legal, and that's the major difference.

There is a world of difference between avoidance (illegal) and evasion (legal).

Do I think it's correct? Yes, it's legal.

If you're asking do I think it's moral or ethical? Which is a different conversation altogether and has nothing whatsoever to do with if it's correct or not.

Inactive

Alan_M wrote: »

Nope, just the ones that expect people to commit VAT fraud on their behalf and genuinely get upset when we won't, there is absolutely no upside for us whatsoever.

I'm sure MSE is delighted that it's forum members are openly promoting tax evasion / VAT Fraud...shall we ask Martin.....I thought not.

There are plenty of very good smaller builders that are not VAT registered, I never mentioned anything about " VAT Fraud ".

sunshinetours

Alan_M wrote: »

Nothing in the slightest wrong with avoidance...it's legal, and that's the major difference.

There is a world of difference between avoidance (illegal) and evasion (legal).

Do I think it's correct? Yes, it's legal.

If you're asking do I think it's moral or ethical? Which is a different conversation altogether and has nothing whatsoever to do with if it's correct or not.

I would suggest you read my post back again and then yours

I am well aware of the differences thank you

Al1x

My dad is a builder and he used to be VAT registered but now he is getting on towards retirement and does a lot less work than he used to. he's fallen below the threashold so deregistered for VAT.

Just wanted to say if a builder isn't VAT registered then it doesn't mean they are dodgy or the work they do is rubbish.