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Post Info TOPIC: Edited.


Master Book-keeper

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Edited.


Hi All

Handy hint re MTD - maybe a start to a useful thread...

 

Before you do anything at all - download a copy of existing clients VAT certificates as you wont have access via your ASA.



-- Edited by Cheshire on Tuesday 26th of March 2019 11:52:30 PM



-- Edited by Cheshire on Tuesday 26th of March 2019 11:54:32 PM

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 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position



Senior Member

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RE: MTD - Handy hint (s)


Cheshire wrote:

Hi All

Handy hint re MTD - maybe a start to a useful thread...

 

Before you do anything at all - download a copy of existing clients VAT certificates as you wont have access via your ASA.


 Hi Joanne

Thanks...I wouldn't have thought about that hmm

I have got an account set-up but that's as much as I've done so far biggrin



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Janet

They keep making the system idiot proof but then make bigger and better idiots!



Master Book-keeper

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Hi Janet
The problem is that HMRC havent thought about it too much either. The whole thing is a reet mess!

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 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position



Master Book-keeper

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Handy


Only 18 views in over 4 hours.

Hardy worth bothering.

The the hell has happened to this site?

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 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position



Master Book-keeper

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RE: Edited.


Did you not know?  The rapture has taken place and the 18 views are those of us left behind!!!

I did read it yesterday and noted it as very useful info, for which I thank you.

I think the forum has more or less died.  When I first joined this site there were quite a few forumites but one by one they've dropped away, I must have frightened them all away lol.



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John 

 

 

 Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.



Master Book-keeper

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Dead and almost buried.

I emailed Steve about the lack of search issues.

I also emailed Shaun about the fact someone couldnt sign in due to issues with the Captacha thingy after the sent me contact about that job I posted through the referral system as that was the only way they could get in!!!!!!

Perhaps the 18 of us (ha, right, more like 10) should form a whats app group biggrinwinkno



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 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position



Senior Member

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Cheshire wrote:


The problem is that HMRC havent thought about it too much either. The whole thing is a reet mess!


 And it will only get worse!

On the lack of input to the site - I wish I understood more to be able to contribute more!!  I read the posts, then ponder it by which point the things I could have answered have been answered...and then there are a few posts where I've got no idea what it's about  biggrin 

 



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Janet

They keep making the system idiot proof but then make bigger and better idiots!



Master Book-keeper

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Your contribution is very much valued Janet. 



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John 

 

 

 Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.



Guru

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Thanks Joanne

I do usually print the cert off and keep on file but handy to know

The forum has been going that way for a while now, I don't think it helped when there was all those issues with the website saying that it was unsecure as I am sure that put a lot of people off and many probably thought it had shut down, hopefully with the end of the tax year coming (yes that time of year again already) we may see a bit more traffic and maybe a few more newbies coming out to play.

Otherwise we will just have to continue to chat amongst ourselves to keep ourselves occupied.  nod.gif



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Doug

These are only my opinions of how I see things and therefore should not be taken as advice



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Thanks John.  If you ever need advice about wedding dresses I'll be in first with the answers biggrinbiggrin
Artois wrote:

 Otherwise we will just have to continue to chat amongst ourselves to keep ourselves occupied.  nod.gif


 It least it will keep us out of mischief - maybe confuse

 

 



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Janet

They keep making the system idiot proof but then make bigger and better idiots!



Master Book-keeper

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Kinbuck wrote:
Thanks John.  If you ever need advice about wedding dresses I'll be in first with the answers biggrinbiggrin

The only cross dressing I undertake is when I get angry trying to get my socks on biggrinbiggrin



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John 

 

 

 Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.



Expert

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Only 18 views in over 4 hours.

Hardy worth bothering.

The the hell has happened to this site?

I don't know what other people's excuses are for not looking in, but for me it's because at the moment I have much more to worry about than reading forums.

When I did look in and read this comment earlier, I couldn't decide whether to say anything, but having thought about it, why not?

Basically, I'm stressed due to dire financial difficulties. I've been gradually losing work (clients going elsewhere in some cases, shutting down in others) and haven't been able to get any new so far. As of yesterday I'm now down to just two clients. The one bright side is the client that emailed me yesterday to say they no longer needed my services (having their year end accountant take over now that she employs a bookkeeper) is the Xero one - so no more Xero for me. Yippee. I think. :/

What this ultimately means, though, is that I am way short of earning what I need to pay the rent etc.

I've had to apply for the dreaded Universal Credit, and this week discovered that it really is as awful as people say - and it's a real kick in the teeth if you're self employed.

At my current level of work, my bottom line is about £400 short of what I need each month. I was hoping I'd get enough to get me up to the level I need until I have more work coming in. Indeed, punching my figure into a UC calculator linked on the UC website, it suggested around £330 IIRC, so a bit short, but with a bit of belt tightening would have helped bigly.

But apparently no.

For those they consider gainfully self employed (GSE), they work out a figure you should be earning each month. They call this the minimum income floor - or MIF. I think it should stand for mythical income figure. The figure they worked out for me is... £330 per month more than my current income. That all makes sense so far - if you assume that means I'd be entitled to £330 per month, thus bringing my actual income up much closer to what it needs to be.

Except that's not how it works. For the GSE, the MIF is what they deem you to be earning each month, even if you're actually earning less. The amount you are entitled to is based on the MIF - not what you actually have coming in.

Punching the MIF figure into their UC calculator as though it was my income, and it suggests I'll get about £80 per month.

So unless I get some new work, I am in dire straits.

I've reached the point where I've now written a CV and have started looking at job sites and applying for full time jobs - something I've never wanted to do.

And to think it wasn't that long ago that I was turning away work - not because I couldn't fit it in, because I just didn't want to do any more than I was already. :(



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Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software

(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)



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VinceH wrote:

Only 18 views in over 4 hours.

Hardy worth bothering.

The the hell has happened to this site?

I don't know what other people's excuses are for not looking in, but for me it's because at the moment I have much more to worry about than reading forums.

When I did look in and read this comment earlier, I couldn't decide whether to say anything, but having thought about it, why not?

Basically, I'm stressed due to dire financial difficulties. I've been gradually losing work (clients going elsewhere in some cases, shutting down in others) and haven't been able to get any new so far. As of yesterday I'm now down to just two clients. The one bright side is the client that emailed me yesterday to say they no longer needed my services (having their year end accountant take over now that she employs a bookkeeper) is the Xero one - so no more Xero for me. Yippee. I think. :/

What this ultimately means, though, is that I am way short of earning what I need to pay the rent etc.

I've had to apply for the dreaded Universal Credit, and this week discovered that it really is as awful as people say - and it's a real kick in the teeth if you're self employed.

At my current level of work, my bottom line is about £400 short of what I need each month. I was hoping I'd get enough to get me up to the level I need until I have more work coming in. Indeed, punching my figure into a UC calculator linked on the UC website, it suggested around £330 IIRC, so a bit short, but with a bit of belt tightening would have helped bigly.

But apparently no.

For those they consider gainfully self employed (GSE), they work out a figure you should be earning each month. They call this the minimum income floor - or MIF. I think it should stand for mythical income figure. The figure they worked out for me is... £330 per month more than my current income. That all makes sense so far - if you assume that means I'd be entitled to £330 per month, thus bringing my actual income up much closer to what it needs to be.

Except that's not how it works. For the GSE, the MIF is what they deem you to be earning each month, even if you're actually earning less. The amount you are entitled to is based on the MIF - not what you actually have coming in.

Punching the MIF figure into their UC calculator as though it was my income, and it suggests I'll get about £80 per month.

So unless I get some new work, I am in dire straits.

I've reached the point where I've now written a CV and have started looking at job sites and applying for full time jobs - something I've never wanted to do.

And to think it wasn't that long ago that I was turning away work - not because I couldn't fit it in, because I just didn't want to do any more than I was already. :(


I'm so very sorry Vince. My swapping sides wasn't because I couldn't find clients but rather I didn't particularly like the one's that I found as the universal truth of them seemed to be a desire to attempt to get something past me on the assumption that I was the one who somehow decided their taxes rather than the one attempting to minimuise them based on the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Why should we risk our livelihoods and fines (government and professional body) for business owners that look upon us as an overhead. Add to that the half baked implementation of MTD being a worse mess than RTI was and I'm completely with you.

Of course, this side of the fence isn't much better. I'm back to dealing with empire builders and people attempting to set my delivery dates without consulting me (that hasn't worked too well for them).

Where are you looking to work?  Brum and Manchester are both thriving at the min with so many jobs leaving London. Having sound Excel skills (VBA, User forms, embedded SQL etc.) can open doors. As can things like SSRS and SSIS.... Sage, not so much. I've found nobody in mid sized and larger firms that uses it but lots of people working with industry specific ERP systems that really wished that it was being used as generally thats what they train in and never get to use again.

good luck matey, if I hear of anything that might help I'll PM you.

kindest regards,

Shaun



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Shaun

Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.



Master Book-keeper

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And I thought I was struggling.  I'm really sorry to hear about your dilemma Vince, and trust that something is just around the corner for you.

I totally agree with you about Universal Credit, it's a total disaster if you're self employed, as you are deemed to be working 35 hours @ NMW. 

Would it pay to take something on part time to boost your income to what you need, whilst at the same time slowly building your business back up?  I went through a very tight spot a couple of years ago, losing 3 or 4 customers including my biggest earner at the time.  Slowly I've pulled back, but I did Pizza Delivery 3 nights a week to get by.  Just given that up a month ago, but it was hard letting go of that extra income.

Wishing you the absolute best.



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John 

 

 

 Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.



Master Book-keeper

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Kinbuck wrote:
Cheshire wrote:


The problem is that HMRC havent thought about it too much either. The whole thing is a reet mess!


 And it will only get worse!

On the lack of input to the site - I wish I understood more to be able to contribute more!!  I read the posts, then ponder it by which point the things I could have answered have been answered...and then there are a few posts where I've got no idea what it's about  biggrin 

 


 I totally agree with Doug - you input is very much valued and appreciated.  

Jump in where and when you can.

 



__________________

 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position



Master Book-keeper

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Date:

VinceH wrote:

Only 18 views in over 4 hours.

Hardy worth bothering.

The the hell has happened to this site?

I don't know what other people's excuses are for not looking in, but for me it's because at the moment I have much more to worry about than reading forums.

When I did look in and read this comment earlier, I couldn't decide whether to say anything, but having thought about it, why not?

 


 Hi Vince

Im so sorry to hear you are going through such an awkward and stressful time.

I know it can be very scary to lose even one largish client as it can foten take quite a while to replace them.

Having to deal with the  none logic of the Universal Credit system clearly isnt helping.   The system never seems to help folk who have put in for donkies years and just need that bit of help for a short while to get straight.

Despite falling figures on this site dare I suggest that you pop a post on here saying you are looking for work and asking people to PM you (add a piccie to your profile view!).  Bump the post every now and again.  Potential clients do occasionally find folk this way and sometimes it only takes one to get you back to where you need to be.

Also and I dont know if youve considered this  - look for small limited companies who need a one man finance team to work from their offices.  I have a few of those who started off that way, although once you are in situ and proved yourself you can often work from home (as long as technology can deal with that - thats where you have the advantage on me in sorting such stuff out!).

Ask everyone and anyone you know for recommends.    (Sorry if I teaching you to suck eggs!)

I sometimes get calls on here from other folk with requests for remote working. If I get any I will certainly be happy to put work your way. I so wished I had known about your situation a few weeks ago, so please do keep us updated (offline or on here).

Good luck, hopefully you will be back to turning folk away again soon.

 

 

 



__________________

 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position



Master Book-keeper

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Cheshire wrote:



I also emailed Shaun about the fact someone couldnt sign in due to issues with the Captacha thingy after the sent me contact about that job I posted through the referral system as that was the only way they could get in!!!!!!



 

Hi Shaun

Just wondered if you passed this on to Steve, or shall I , if you are too busy?



__________________

 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position



Expert

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Hi folks, thanks for the messages of support.

Shaun: I'm based in Bristol - and because I'm a user of LibreOffice, I don't really have much beyond 'basic' Excel skills.

John: As a last resort I might very well look at some basic part time work - but I'll leave it to a last resort. (This reminds me of a point I was going to make, though: I'd actually be better off doing a full time job stacking shelves at Asda or something for minimum wage than I am now.)

Joanne: I thought advertising of that nature was vetoed (or is just the fly by nights who pop up, do that, then vanish?) I have to go out now, but I'll think about writing something sensible along those lines later - good suggestion, ta.

Worth noting: All of my work over the years has come from word of mouth - I've never advertised properly except in a token way. (Even my website mentions that I work in this field in the services section, but goes on to say something like "I'm busy, can't take on owt new at the mo" - I need to find the computer that has the log-ins on and update that at long last). So I've absolutely no real experience marketing in this field.

As of a couple of days ago I've tentatively put an advert on a local free ads site, and I'll look for more such sites and do the same.

Local small limited companies; I've already thought of that. I'm going to draw up a flier/letter to drop through doors as I spot any while out and about. (Beyond spotting their signs, going back to the lack of any previous marketing in this field, I've no idea how else to find such firms!)

As for remote working, that's something I intensely dislike - so like the part time job idea, that would be very last resort. (He says, even though the other night he sent his CV last night to a company advertising on a job site a full time position doing just that!)

As a final note, I was updating my cash flow projections this morning, and when I checked my personal bank account I spotted that I'd had my first payment from UC a couple of days ago.

As expected once I knew about the "myth", it wasn't the £330 I was originally hoping for that I got.

But it also wasn't the £80 I subsequently thought it might be based on what the UC calculator said.

It was £4.81 :(


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Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software

(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)



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Cheshire wrote:
Cheshire wrote:



I also emailed Shaun about the fact someone couldnt sign in due to issues with the Captacha thingy after the sent me contact about that job I posted through the referral system as that was the only way they could get in!!!!!!



 

Hi Shaun

Just wondered if you passed this on to Steve, or shall I , if you are too busy?


Yes but not heard anything back yet.

I'll email again from one of my Google email addresses as I seem to have been having some issues with messages recently to / from the talk talk one's.... The other day I received a PayPal receipt... For a purchase made I two months ago!!! First reaction was OMG whose hacked my PayPal account followed swiftly by... Oh, just a delayed receipt.

I digress, I'll write again as its unusual for Steve not to reply.

laters,

Shaun.

 

 



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Shaun

Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.



Master Book-keeper

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Vince, something to consider on your last resort p/t job.  Assuming you can drive, Amazon Parcel Deliveries. You download an app from the store and log in as and when you choose on a self employed basis.  Maybe handy if you dont want to commit to regular hours.

I've not done it myself but got told about it.  



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John 

 

 

 Any advice given is for general guidance and professional advice should be sought applicable to your circumstances.



Expert

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Good shout, yes, I'll keep that in mind. Ta.

Changing subject - this is new, I think: I was so quick to type my reply here after replying to Jay's password manager question, the forum stopped the post telling me I'd just posted something and to wait a moment before trying again.



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Vince M Hudd - Soft Rock Software

(I only came here looking for fellow apiarists...)



Guru

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Hi Vince

Sorry to hear about you losing some of your clients, always sad to hear that in any industry.

Not sure if this would be of any interest to you but last summer I applied for some sub-contract bookkeeping work through a company who specialised in doing the accounts for Public Houses, one because I was a bit quiet work wise and also because they stipulated you had to use QuickBooks (you get free 3 months trial so no outlay) which I had never used before so thought it would be good experience, they sent me through an assessment to see if I was suitable which I started and was unable to complete and send back due to some unexpected work coming in as well as a few personal matters so never went back to it.

If I remember rightly you got paid set fees for certain aspects of the bookkeeping and accounts and could ask for how ever much work you could complete in the time scales they gave, it certainly will not make you rich but might help you out through a lean patch.

If you are interested just drop me an email (the one on my profile now I have started to look at it again) and I will send you all the information, if not no problems and I hope things pick up again for you soon.

Cheers

Doug



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Doug

These are only my opinions of how I see things and therefore should not be taken as advice



Master Book-keeper

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Hi Vince
How are you doing? Hopefully better than the last time you posted.

__________________

 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position



Master Book-keeper

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Posts: 8646
Date:

Shamus wrote:

 


Yes but not heard anything back yet.

I'll email again from one of my Google email addresses as I seem to have been having some issues with messages recently to / from the talk talk one's.... The other day I received a PayPal receipt... For a purchase made I two months ago!!! First reaction was OMG whose hacked my PayPal account followed swiftly by... Oh, just a delayed receipt.     I think a few of your email addresses are not working hon!

I digress, I'll write again as its unusual for Steve not to reply. I think his isnt working too.  Or maybe its just mine!   Good to see things improving on here....a couple of newbies and the spammers are back.  I can also now find some old posts if you do the usual google search option, although I think the SEO bit is still required.

laters,

Shaun.

 

 


 



__________________

 Joanne 

Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017 

Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.

You should check out answers with reference to the legal position

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