More small traders to be dragged into VAT

[Dustydazzler]

Jeremy Hunt plots to hit small businesses with stealth VAT raid

Jeremy Hunt is plotting a stealth tax raid on small businesses that will force thousands more to pay VAT as he scrambles to balance the country’s books.

uk.yahoo.com

 

[nicebutdim]

VAT threshold has been frozen since 2017.

While it's a fairly cynical move, I'd suggest there's currently greater justification than there was in the early years of this freeze. Public spending has been astronomical for the last couple of years and the only people who'll walk away smelling of roses are public sector workers. Not much mileage in private sector employees 'withholding their labour' until a double digit increase is awarded.

I'll probably get shot down for this, but perhaps an additional 10% on invoices is in order for customers employed in the public sector - no reason why they should object, given their apparent concerns about 'fair pay'.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

VAT threshold has been frozen since 2017.

While it's a fairly cynical move, I'd suggest there's currently greater justification than there was in the early years of this freeze. Public spending has been astronomical for the last couple of years and the only people who'll walk away smelling of roses are public sector workers. Not much mileage in private sector employees 'withholding their labour' until a double digit increase is awarded.

I'll probably get shot down for this, but perhaps an additional 10% on invoices is in order for customers employed in the public sector - no reason why they should object, given their apparent concerns about 'fair pay'.

Its funny doing work for civil servants, they are often the first to challenge the quote/estimate and when im offered cash price its almost always a civil servant./ council worker etc. read in to that what you will. One woman was a investigator at DWP/Job Centre and wanted cash price - told her nope... another was a magistrate/JP wanted to pay cash for the charger install but still claim his OZEV grant! the irony... All like to think holier than thou..
The funniest of them all was a job in Bristol and the guy was a union rep and thought my hourly rate was too high, also wanting to pay cash if i lower it, i told him that its okay for his chums to walk out causing havoc on the trains for higher pay but not okay for me to charge a decent hourly rate. Who was he to judge if my rate was too high, eitehr he wanted the job doing or he didnt... he paid the quoted price in the end and a sizeable deposit upfront as he annoyed me.

 

[nicebutdim]

Its funny doing work for civil servants, they are often the first to challenge the quote/estimate and when im offered cash price its almost always a civil servant./ council worker etc. read in to that what you will. One woman was a investigator at DWP/Job Centre and wanted cash price - told her nope... another was a magistrate/JP wanted to pay cash for the charger install but still claim his OZEV grant! the irony... All like to think holier than thou..
The funniest of them all was a job in Bristol and the guy was a union rep and thought my hourly rate was too high, also wanting to pay cash if i lower it, i told him that its okay for his chums to walk out causing havoc on the trains for higher pay but not okay for me to charge a decent hourly rate. Who was he to judge if my rate was too high, eitehr he wanted the job doing or he didnt... he paid the quoted price in the end and a sizeable deposit upfront as he annoyed me.

My last comment was partly tongue in cheek, but the barb wasn't without good reason.

 

[Diddy]

Not much mileage in private sector employees 'withholding their labour' until a double digit increase is awarded.

I have increased my prices by more than 10% in the last year. I know it's different if you are an employed electrician rather than a sole trader BUT I would say that the current climate even in this recession the amount of work going on sparks could quite easily individually walk out and earn more elsewhere.
I mean it is easier if you are in a unionised workplace, but most of us are not really in that environment, but there is no way on earth am I having a pay freeze or pay cut. Just isn't going to happen lol. Im kind of fortunate that I "don't need" to work much more than 2 days a week so i suppose it is "easy" for me to say. But I have been like this since I came out of my apprenticeship. I always made sure I got my wage increases in line with inflation at least. I like my job but I am not a fan of doing it for love.
Even as a grubby subby I teamed up so we could negotiate together and get each other on the better jobs.

 

[nicebutdim]

I have increased my prices by more than 10% in the last year. I know it's different if you are an employed electrician rather than a sole trader BUT I would say that the current climate even in this recession the amount of work going on sparks could quite easily individually walk out and earn more elsewhere.
I mean it is easier if you are in a unionised workplace, but most of us are not really in that environment, but there is no way on earth am I having a pay freeze or pay cut. Just isn't going to happen lol. Im kind of fortunate that I "don't need" to work much more than 2 days a week so i suppose it is "easy" for me to say. But I have been like this since I came out of my apprenticeship. I always made sure I got my wage increases in line with inflation at least. I like my job but I am not a fan of doing it for love.
Even as a grubby subby I teamed up so we could negotiate together and get each other on the better jobs.

That's pretty much my way of looking at work- if unhappy, move on.

 

[LukeD]

That's pretty much my way of looking at work- if unhappy, move on.

Domestic work 100% keeps me happy .The odd Shop refurb if the money is good also !