Mystery Shopping Thread 21 *PLEASE READ THE OP FIRST**PLEASE NO CLIENT NAMES OR FEES*

HappyMJ

spender wrote: »

Now the final question, if we are undertaking mystery shopping as an income how come so many are owed tax? I can not see how the tax man would not be investigating if nearly everybody makes a loss? Even though I have been doing this in addition to my main job I have still managed to make a profit even with all expenses taken off. Not a large profit but a profit nevertheless which I will have to pay tax on. I can not get my head around the fact that people get a rebate of tax. What am I doing wrong?

Earning too much and not claiming enough. It's debateable and has been discussed to great length before but I would claim part of the reimburse only expenses as a business expense even if it is reimbursed and I also claim more than £3 a week home office expenses. You can claim any figure you like that you can reasonably justify. £3 is the maximum figure accepted where you don't need to get a calculator out and figure it out. Same with home phone and broadband I just claim half as business.

As far as showing the details you don't need to it's a simple 3 line account only. Income less expenses equals profit.

whitelabel

lanny275 wrote: »

Hi, I need some advice please. I did my first mystery shop today for GAP at a burger restaurant in my local town.
I am positive the staff believed me to be a mystery shopper. I usually go to the restaurant about once a week or so so am quite familiar with the staff, usual state of the place, usual service etc.
Today however ALL the staff were asking customers if they wanted a receipt. In all my years of frequenting this restaurant I have NEVER been asked this, nor have I ever heard anyone else be asked. As this is a fairly small branch there are only 4 tills so easy to eavesdrop on other customers being served.
As soon as I said yes to a receipt it was like someone has pressed a buzzer! I suddenly had 2 people serving me, a fresh burger was made up for me, even though I could see they had what I'd ordered in the warming bay. I was offered sauces, extra salt all with big bright toothy smiles!
To be honest I found the whole thing a little unnerving.
I then sat down to eat my meal and noticed 4 staff members, one of which must have been a regional manager as he wore no uniform, name badge etc. They were all huddled in a corner whispering then looking at me! I know I sound paranoid, I'm almost laughing at how conspiratorial this sounds but it was SO obvious.
During my meal I was approached by an employee asking if everything was alright with my meal and the second I reached for my coat another employee came, asked if I'd finished and whisked away my tray to the bin!
A lady at the table next to me even asked what I'd done to get so well looked after!
I then left my table to check out the toilets followed swiftly by a cleaner who just sort of hovered about in the loos for a few minutes waving a mop at the floor!
As I was leaving the restaurant I was asked by 3 different employees if everything was ok with my meal etc and thanking me for coming.
In all it was the most bizarre experience I have ever had at one of these restaurants. I usually find the staff to be mildly helpful at best and downright rude at worst.
I would also add that no other customer was receiving this 'special treatment' which made it all the more obvious.
I am wondering what timescale the restaurant is given for a mystery shop and whether they figured it was probably me because I wanted a reciept. As previously mentioned I have never been asked or given a receipt before, even when paying by card.
Should I tell GAP about my suspicions?
Sorry if I've waffled on a bit, any help much appreciated.

welcome to your first gap floor show

weve all had them
at the end of the day, i have no doubt staff are tipped off so just do your report and dont worry
i wouldnt mention it either or you wont ever do a gap burger again

personallt, if it was a venue i visited or passed frequently within the time frame , I would have deliberately walked out, rearranged the visit and then go again just to annoy them or better still, do that any how and then revisit and ask for a receipt again, they wont suspect the 2nd visit and can assess it then

but dont worry, its such a joke what ever you do

spender

HappyMJ, is there anywhere I can find out what I claim for such as broadband etc? I did not think about broadband etc.

so I can claim Mileage, broadband, telephone, heat/light etc.

I can see now how I can bring the profit down.

Can I ask how you claim a business expense against reimbursement only? I know I can claim mileage but can I claim anything else?

Sorry for all these questions, I feel quite a thicko when it comes to this!

lanny275

Thanks to lclose62 and whitelabel for your advice. It's good to know I'm not just totally paranoid.
Seems a tad pointless having a mystery shopper tip off, nice idea about rescheduling whitelabel, unfortunately I can't on this occasion due to other commitments but will certainly bear that one in mind for next time. That'll have them in a flap!
Ah well, at least I have a better idea of what to expect (I have my next assignment on Monday)
Thanks again guys, I owe you one :beer:

Lil_Me_2

spender wrote: »

HappyMJ, is there anywhere I can find out what I claim for such as broadband etc? I did not think about broadband etc.

so I can claim Mileage, broadband, telephone, heat/light etc.

I can see now how I can bring the profit down.

Can I ask how you claim a business expense against reimbursement only? I know I can claim mileage but can I claim anything else?

Sorry for all these questions, I feel quite a thicko when it comes to this!

This is an issue that led to disagreements between many on here and HappyMJ recently. Misssarahleigh kindly sought clarification from HMRC and it was confirmed that reimbursement only jobs are a taxable income. Some chose to ignore the advice and that is their choice, however should their records ever be looked into they would have a very hard time arguing it with HMRC.

Personally my expenses equal around half of my total income and I pay a reasonable amount of tax as I'm sure others do on here too. Like you I do this on top of my full time work (and other PAYE part time work).

jen_br

Lil_Me wrote: »

This is an issue that led to disagreements between many on here and HappyMJ recently. Misssarahleigh kindly sought clarification from HMRC and it was confirmed that reimbursement only jobs are a taxable income. Some chose to ignore the advice and that is their choice, however should their records ever be looked into they would have a very hard time arguing it with HMRC.

Personally my expenses equal around half of my total income and I pay a reasonable amount of tax as I'm sure others do on here too. Like you I do this on top of my full time work (and other PAYE part time work).

agree thats why Egg jobs say "Please donate or give the eggs away for tax purposes..."

Sorry but if you were to get audited... you would FAIL!. You cant justify reimbursement only jobs

dazza.mk

jen_br wrote: »

agree thats why Egg jobs say "Please donate or give the eggs away for tax purposes..."

Sorry but if you were to get audited... you would FAIL!. You cant justify reimbursement only jobs

What you mean that HappyMJ's justification for claiming 95% of all household expenses being that otherwise he would earn to much money possibly wouldn't be enough for HMRC ? :rotfl::rotfl:

teendude

For reimbursement jobs I've always been recording the cost as an expense and an income. Is that alright!?

misssarahleigh

Cannot search for my post about the tax on my phone, but once found do you think it may be a good idea to pop it in the first posts with the other tax stuff?

I rang as the topic seemed to crop up often and there were a few different views. Maybe if we add it in and explain "this is what most people do, but we can't force you, but be warned, you will stand a good chance of being fully investigated should Mr tax man finds out your being naughty" or something to that effect.

Then it's there. If people ignore it, upto them.

Just an idea.

misssarahleigh

Found it

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=47293809&postcount=3814