Mystery Shopping Thread 24 *PLEASE READ THE OP FIRST**PLEASE NO CLIENT NAMES OR FEES

HappyMJ · 19 April 2013 at 10:50AM

HappyHappy wrote: »

To be honest I'm not in it to make money, more of a free meal ticket as I already have a full time job! I'm not sure how to fill in the form for self employed either with me having another job? Just wondered if it was worth it

It's also debateable whether you should be declaring the reimbursement as income and not declaring the meal as an expense as technically the expense was not incurred to earn money i.e a fee. It could be said that it's a benefit. I do claim just the reimbursement as an expense but no other expenses such as travel...I now only claim travel against fees...but many here disagree and do the opposite. To get an answer for yourself you really should speak with the HMRC and not rely on the answers here on the forum. It's self assessment...it's just a couple of lines. Income less expenses equals profit.

superliss · 19 April 2013 at 10:59AM

HappyHappy wrote: »

To be honest I'm not in it to make money, more of a free meal ticket as I already have a full time job! I'm not sure how to fill in the form for self employed either with me having another job? Just wondered if it was worth it

Its a bit of a pullavar to do it for a few free meals. While you won't get rich there is a bit of opportunity to make some cash. I work full time and tend to do the quick jobs on the way to and from work mostly... every now and again I book a day off to do a circuit I find the bit of extra money useful It pays for the summer holiday if nothing else. I wouldn't go through the rigmarole of tax returns for a few free meals!

HappyHappy_2 · 19 April 2013 at 11:29AM

Thanks, to be honest my friend who told me about it only does it for a few meals etc and she hasn't registered for self employment, I just like doing things right as I'm a natural worrier lol.

Nuncle · 19 April 2013 at 11:36AM

HappyHappy wrote: »

Thanks, to be honest my friend who told me about it only does it for a few meals etc and she hasn't registered for self employment, I just like doing things right as I'm a natural worrier lol.

I did a small number of low fee mystery shops last year, total earnings probably less than £25. I didn't declare these earnings as it was worth so little. I have recently started doing shops a bit more regularly, and have joined a couple more agencies to do so. I have started the process of notifying HMRC and paying tax on earnings. I'm learning as I go. I phoned HMRC and said I would like to register for self assessment, and have requested the form to avoid paying National Insurance, as Mystery Shopping is just a sideline to my normal 9 to 5.

Lil_Me_2 · 19 April 2013 at 11:46AM

YOU MUST REGISTER AS SELF EMPLOYED AND SUBMIT A TAX RETURN IF YOU DO ANY MYSTERY SHOPPING!! You'll find this in the terms and conditions of all of the companies and HMRC will take great delight in fining you.

Also (in the nicest possible way) please don't take tax advice from HappyMJ as they're currently being investigated by HMRC for their previous tax returns, so not the best example to follow.

If you take reimbursement only jobs then you are getting an incidental benefit and you must declare that income and pay tax on it. It is a cheap meal (80% off), not a free meal.

Nuncle · 19 April 2013 at 12:02PM

Lil_Me wrote: »

YOU MUST REGISTER AS SELF EMPLOYED AND SUBMIT A TAX RETURN IF YOU DO ANY MYSTERY SHOPPING!! You'll find this in the terms and conditions of all of the companies and HMRC will take great delight in fining you.

Also (in the nicest possible way) please don't take tax advice from HappyMJ as they're currently being investigated by HMRC for their previous tax returns, so not the best example to follow.

If you take reimbursement only jobs then you are getting an incidental benefit and you must declare that income and pay tax on it. It is a cheap meal (80% off), not a free meal.

Is there a handy guide buried in any of the Mystery Shopping threads?

dazza.mk · 19 April 2013 at 12:09PM

Nuncle wrote: »

Is there a handy guide buried in any of the Mystery Shopping threads?

See Post 1. There is a general consensus that these are the best rules to follow. HappyMJ has a consensus of 1 for his view.

Lil_Me_2 · 19 April 2013 at 12:09PM

Nuncle wrote: »

Is there a handy guide buried in any of the Mystery Shopping threads?

Buried on the first page

Nuncle · 19 April 2013 at 12:21PM

Thanks folks. I skimmed the guide a few weeks ago. Now that registering with HMRC has been done, this information has 'stuck' a bit better.

Wizzbang · 19 April 2013 at 1:00PM

To be honest, I get so confused by all this tax stuff. I'm glad I'm self-employed anyway and so I just add this all to my spreadsheets and he sorts it out. But, I'm still trying to work out in my head what the right approach is when you get re-imbursed for things. Currently I'm doing what my accountant said and listing it as both income and an expense. I assume that is correct? So, if I paid £3.50 for a drink it goes down as an expense and then, if I am re-imbursed £3.50 for a drink, that goes down as income. I've taken as listing the re-imbursement separately to the fee, incase my accountant needs to note the difference. Oh, I'm so confused by it! lol