Mystery Shopping Thread 20 **PLEASE DO NOT MENTION CLIENT NAMES OR FEES ON HERE**

DPJames

kman wrote: »

I know we've been through this before, but do we really need an alert for jobs we've already received emails about from the MS co...? :think:

Wow, sorry. I was just on the site browsing and they all came up. I checked and there was no alert for them so I quickly let everyone know.

Crikey, a person could be forgiven for feeling victimised round here. If you've got a problem PM first before you try and round up all your mates to jump on me.

And if I see any more jobs come up, before I alert everyone I'll PM you and check if you haven't had the specific email first.

dazza.mk

DPJames wrote: »

But surely if you are being audited and include reimbursement as payment on one job then you'll have to declare and include it on ALL jobs. The taxman isn't going to let you pick and choose I'm afraid.

And the only way you'd be audited is if the taxman got in touch with one of the MS companies first and they gave him your details. So to minimise you tax payments keep your work for different companies totally separate. So that when he asks to see your work from company X you'll then be able to pull that file and show him without him asking about who all these other companies were that you had worked with.

? Don't get your point unless it related to my post "Income=Reimbursement", then yes Reimbursement does = Income on all jobs, either Income=Reimbursement or Income=Reimbursement+Fees.

And as to your point about only being audited via the MS companies details, you don't think its possible they audit some self assessment returns directly? - In the case I referred to earlier thats on mysteryshoppersuk the shopper was audited as her self assessment was flagged due to a high level of expenses compared to income.

DPJames

dazza.mk wrote: »

the shopper was audited as her self assessment was flagged due to a high level of expenses compared to income.

So in the only case that we know of of a Mystery Shopper being audited, she was only audited because she claimed high expenses on her self assessment form. If she didn't file a form, she wouldn't have been assessed.....Interesting;)

DPJames

dazza.mk wrote: »

? Don't get your point unless it related to my post "Income=Reimbursement", then yes Reimbursement does = Income on all jobs, either Income=Reimbursement or Income=Reimbursement+Fees.

Yeah, that's what I was saying Dazza. But some people seem to think they'll be able to pick and chose which jobs they'll include reimbursement as part of the fee and which ones they don't. It's either all of them or none of them.

Tudorc1

DP James - why not just do it correctly and pay the taxes due if you are ever lucky enough to do that much work?

Where do you get off having to cheat the system all the time?

Accept the fact that taxes need to be paid to pay for people's housing benefit (among other things).

Many MSers have been audited, often with no detriment to themselves - just the taxman doing their jobs. I look forward to the day that they catch up with you.

dazza.mk

DPJames wrote: »

So in the only case that we know of of a Mystery Shopper being audited, she was only audited because she claimed high expenses on her self assessment form. If she didn't file a form, she wouldn't have been assessed.....Interesting;)

Sure it is SELF assessment , if you fail to declare you won't pay tax but if/when you get caught you've got serious problems (oh and one company that I've worked for did ask for my UTR to confirm that I was declaring under self assessment

DPJames

TooDork, can I ask what on Earth are you talking about.

dazza.mk

DPJames wrote: »

Yeah, that's what I was saying Dazza. But some people seem to think they'll be able to pick and chose which jobs they'll include reimbursement as part of the fee and which ones they don't. It's either all of them or none of them.

I don't think so, the arguments on reimbursement jobs were mainly

Income = £x

or

Income £x - reimbursements £x = Taxable Profit £0 (or less if you're HappyMJ)

superliss

Just in addition to reading the first page firtst (which I did so gold star to me) I think its worth putting the alerts for emails that come through to most folk, for those who make the decision on which companies to join. This is not a perfect formula I understand but it does help build a picture, especially for the not so experienced shopper or those relatively new to the forum.

Peace out - 1 love.

weeg

Having opened today's post, I have another reason to keep good records - I claim tax credits as a low earner. HMRC have just asked me for details of the type of work I do, summary/diary of bookings, appointments, breakdown of hours worked per week, invoices for work done, receipts for any expenses paid. Original documents - no photocopies.

Is it ok if I cry now?

Edit: I just phoned them to ask for clarification. Thankfully they do accept that time marketing your business/ looking for work - ie checking MS websites does count as work in their terms, not just the visiting/ report writing. Still, deep joy.