Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Frankybadboy on January 04, 2010, 07:14:59 am

Title: how honest are you
Post by: Frankybadboy on January 04, 2010, 07:14:59 am
i made a statement in a another topic which

was quote
 '' if any of you window cleaners have been honest to the taxman from day 1 of trading you are a LIAR.   

sorry but cant believe any of you have been totally honest''.


thats my view.

whats yours   
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Slash on January 04, 2010, 07:22:17 am
Yes,I am totally honest,I could'nt sleep at night if I was'nt :)
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: peter holley on January 04, 2010, 07:52:24 am
i made a statement in a another topic which

was quote
 '' if any of you window cleaners have been honest to the taxman from day 1 of trading you are a LIAR.   

sorry but cant believe any of you have been totally honest''.


thats my view.

whats yours   

I agree :-X :-X
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Moderator David@stives on January 04, 2010, 07:55:04 am
Frank

Dont judge everyone else by your own standards.

A lot of window cleaners will take offence to what you are implying.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: ccmids on January 04, 2010, 08:12:03 am
i made a statement in a another topic which

was quote
 '' if any of you window cleaners have been honest to the taxman from day 1 of trading you are a LIAR.   

sorry but cant believe any of you have been totally honest''.


thats my view.

whats yours   

so what are you trying to say, do you work for the taxman ;D
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Frankybadboy on January 04, 2010, 08:12:56 am
i am honest dave trust me iam a lawyer. ;D ;D ;D

''A lot of window cleaners will take offence to what you are implying''why would that be?????????????

this is just my view.dont want to offened,just be truthfull.

and i did state from day 1.


Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Niall McAllister on January 04, 2010, 08:55:54 am
Sorry Franky,
 what you seem to be saying in effect is that you have stolen from day one, and you assume everyone else is just as dishonest? I hope I have misunderstood as you seem a decent enough guy,I like to think most people are honest, and I work look from the starting point that the majority don't steal.

Niall
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: pingu on January 04, 2010, 09:09:41 am
Now whilst not trying to be holier than the pope but I have made a concious decision not to be dishonest anymore this all started when I moved to The Netherlands...now being that I am a foreigner I believe that I should pay all my taxes to the country that allows me to stay within their lands. More importantly it's more about my personal pride.

As a man your worth is judged by your actions both in thought and deed.

Even pocketing that odd fiver for doing a little extra job ...you need to think about the actions you may be taking...plus is just makes things so easier to balance.

Cheers
Dave.

Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: mlscontractcleaner on January 04, 2010, 10:53:30 am
I'm afraid I'm withy the original poster on this; there can be very few, if any, self employrd people who declare every single penny they earn.

I on the other hand am far too honest for my own good and even declare my Christmas tips and the odd bit of money we find whilst cleaning night clubs. I couldn't live with myself if I thought I'd left the government a bit short to claim all their expenses; God forbid ;)
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: cozy on January 04, 2010, 11:03:25 am
No, if I got paid to do an extra window on a job, got 5 quid extra, no, I wouldn't put it through the books. Now make an orderly line on the left and choose the biggest stones you can find.

Let's be real here guys. Some of us who deal in cash are not retired vicars. I avoid any taxes that I can and I sleep well at night. As for taxmen on forums. I don't know if the HMCR has enough staff to trawl through forums. If they do, Stuff 'em.

(Added later) I do know that the German tax office (Waffen SS) trawl through Fleabay and follow up any info off there. That's easy for them to do as Fleabay have to show feedback for at least 90 days. Easy to see turnover.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: stephen s on January 04, 2010, 11:21:43 am
whats a taxman ?   
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Frankybadboy on January 04, 2010, 03:01:07 pm
Sorry Franky,
 what you seem to be saying in effect is that you have stolen from day one, and you assume everyone else is just as dishonest? I hope I have misunderstood as you seem a decent enough guy,I like to think most people are honest, and I work look from the starting point that the majority don't steal.

Niall
niall when i first started then yes i did keep abit aside.we aint talking millions here.as i was a new business.

iam just honest enough to say i have,

but things change to the fact that i dont any more.

course weve all paid in are extra xmas tips every year,that extra upvc clean you do on a sat as a extra.
if we where all honest then we wouldnt need a tax inspector would we,cause he believe us all.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: 1wayno on January 04, 2010, 03:08:25 pm
whats a taxman ?   

hahaha ;D  ;D
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: dai on January 04, 2010, 03:48:32 pm
To be honest, I think most of us are a little selective when it comes to being honest, indeed we have to be for the sake of living our day to day lives.
If you found a quid in the street, it's someones lost property, I just spit on it for luck and stick it in my pocket.
I found a wallet once with 270 quid in it and I handed it in at the local police station.
My word is my bond, and I have never cheated in marriage. I hate lies, but, if My grand daughter asks, "Does my bum look fat in this dress? not at all sweetheart".
God forgive me.

If you have your round set up in George all your prices are there for anyone to see, but what if someone asks you to do the inside of the patio door as a one off?
Would you enter it into to your software or stick the quid in your pocket?
How many pound coins do you drop or lose in a year? And you pay tax on every one of them.
I believe that always trying to do the right thing gives me a clear conscience, and if my conscience is clear I'm honest.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: macmac on January 04, 2010, 04:17:43 pm
It would be a very hard thing to do to be totally honest.

I wouldn't use the word liar, but, "economical with the truth"

Do you make & keep records/proof of EXACTLY the correct percentages of all things that are not completely exclusive for business use- vehicles, phones, homes, internet connections etc? Or, do you estimate them?

If you claim 100% business use of your vehicle do you not ever nip to the shop, collect a bulky item, go to dumpit etc?
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: macmac on January 04, 2010, 05:04:14 pm
So, are you really as white as you thought?
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: kordun on January 04, 2010, 05:17:57 pm
I know few guys who own fish & chip shops and they all have 300-500k cash at home in safe but don’t know where to spend it as it was earned in shop but never declared. They can spend small amounts but big houses and Porsche 911 is no no.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: G Griffin on January 04, 2010, 05:33:57 pm
I know few guys who own fish & chip shops and they all have 300-500k cash at home in safe but don’t know where to spend it as it was earned in shop but never declared. They can spend small amounts but big houses and Porsche 911 is no no.
They should be worried about the other type of taxman.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: hennessy window cl on January 04, 2010, 05:36:59 pm
There seems to be a lot of concern at the moment about how honest we are, how much we can earn and max earnings for one man etc. and one wonders where it is all coming from or going or what benefit if any it is to window cleaning  issues.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: ptwt on January 04, 2010, 05:54:41 pm
Due to my beliefs i feel duty bound to be 100% honest with the tax man as i believe we have to answer to a higher power who you can not hide anything from.Jesus said in the bible pay back cesars things to cesar and Gods things to Gods when asked about taxes, so for me honesty is a must. Many people dont believe me when i tell them i declare everything and don't pocket some cash but they choose to live by different standards to me and therefore find mine hard to understand. Not saying  im better than anybody else just think i will gain greater benefit from being honest than any gain i would make being dishonest.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: stephen s on January 04, 2010, 06:01:12 pm
Due to my beliefs i feel duty bound to be 100% honest with the tax man as i believe we have to answer to a higher power who you can not hide anything from.Jesus said in the bible pay back cesars things to cesar and Gods things to Gods when asked about taxes, so for me honesty is a must. Many people dont believe me when i tell them i declare everything and don't pocket some cash but they choose to live by different standards to me and therefore find mine hard to understand. Not saying  im better than anybody else just think i will gain greater benefit from being honest than any gain i would make being dishonest.





















cos in your former life you were a 2nd hand car salesman right  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: matt on January 04, 2010, 06:10:38 pm
I know few guys who own fish & chip shops and they all have 300-500k cash at home in safe but don’t know where to spend it as it was earned in shop but never declared. They can spend small amounts but big houses and Porsche 911 is no no.

i know some1 who has just taken 1/4 of a mill out of the country ;)
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: matt on January 04, 2010, 06:12:50 pm
infact, i know of a person on this forum who has taken a fair wedge out of the country in a hand luggage bag to a certain country that doesnt talk too much , i know he will not reply to this though

just to let him know, i am watching  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: macmac on January 04, 2010, 06:13:20 pm
I know few guys who own fish & chip shops and they all have 300-500k cash at home in safe but don’t know where to spend it as it was earned in shop but never declared. They can spend small amounts but big houses and Porsche 911 is no no.

i know some1 who has just taken 1/4 of a mill out of the country ;)


OY!! I told you to keep that to yourself!! :o
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: leapstallbuildings on January 04, 2010, 06:13:39 pm
Due to my beliefs i feel duty bound to be 100% honest with the tax man as i believe we have to answer to a higher power who you can not hide anything from.Jesus said in the bible pay back cesars things to cesar and Gods things to Gods when asked about taxes, so for me honesty is a must. Many people dont believe me when i tell them i declare everything and don't pocket some cash but they choose to live by different standards to me and therefore find mine hard to understand. Not saying  im better than anybody else just think i will gain greater benefit from being honest than any gain i would make being dishonest.

Playing it straight is a good thing but I prefer to adopt those standards myself rather than feel that a deity might punish me for not adhering to them.  Such values also have a place in the lives of many non religious or atheistic folks I'm pleased to say.  I'm pleased to have discovered this because I was brought up to believe that such values only existed for certain types of religious people.
I do understand where you are coming from and applaud your values even though you may have them for different reasons to me.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: matt on January 04, 2010, 06:16:36 pm
I know few guys who own fish & chip shops and they all have 300-500k cash at home in safe but don’t know where to spend it as it was earned in shop but never declared. They can spend small amounts but big houses and Porsche 911 is no no.

i know some1 who has just taken 1/4 of a mill out of the country ;)


OY!! I told you to keep that to yourself!! :o

i said a 1/4 not a 1/2

i didnt want to make you look the pure richer than most professional that you are ;)

Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: jeff1 on January 04, 2010, 06:17:05 pm
Its not the Almighty punishing you have to worry about, if the Taxman punishes you then you'll feel it.

How many Declare  their Christmas tips and even the odd bottle of wine you may have been given? even the value of that bottle of wine is Taxable that you have to pay to the the taxman, so if you don't declare the above then you are not 100% honest with the taxman.  ;)

Its much easier to refuse Christmas tips and gifts than to have to fill out the paperwork and wait for the bill.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: gewindows on January 04, 2010, 06:22:04 pm
Tips?
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Frankybadboy on January 04, 2010, 06:22:21 pm
good debate this  ::) ::) ::)

keep it going

Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: matt on January 04, 2010, 06:36:13 pm
Tips?

dont eat yellow snow
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: wizard on January 04, 2010, 07:05:04 pm
The only tip i GOT WAS, HORSE NO 3 IN THE 5 TH RACE ON SATERDAY.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Nathanael Jones on January 04, 2010, 07:09:24 pm
In this information age its becoming easier and easier for the taxman to track every penny you spend,.. its only a matter of time before cash is gone and everything leaves a paper trail. Its not worth the risk for a few extra quid, I'd rather the peace of mind.

Thats not to say I don't make mistakes, like was mentioned earlier, the extra window or one off clean for a neighbour etc etc might be omited from the accounts simply due to human error, but I do try my best and have done so since day one.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: geefree on January 04, 2010, 07:26:34 pm
Have you heard yourselves  :D ;D.... ::)
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Cathal Keogh on January 04, 2010, 07:28:23 pm
i made a statement in a another topic which

was quote
 '' if any of you window cleaners have been honest to the taxman from day 1 of trading you are a LIAR.   

sorry but cant believe any of you have been totally honest''.


thats my view.

whats yours   

Hi Guys,

First time on here but, you could be of the view that it's only wrong if your caught??  ;)
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: geefree on January 04, 2010, 07:34:29 pm
Hmmm... Have you just started up?  ;)
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Moderator David@stives on January 04, 2010, 07:46:31 pm
My business is built on honesty, probably the reason i am doing so well.

If i were dodgy and hiding a few quid, would i hold my head so high or would i be skulking in the shadows, worrying about the taxman instead of business growth.

This thread started by people stating that they were creating a seperate george account, a world of difference to pocketing the odd quid for the odd inside patio door.

All my friends and fellow businessmen say I am mad for declaring everything, funny thing is, I am doing better than most of them, there are a few exceptions out there but generaly the honest ones have the better businesses.

Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Cathal Keogh on January 04, 2010, 07:53:53 pm
My business is built on honesty, probably the reason i am doing so well.

If i were dodgy and hiding a few quid, would i hold my head so high or would i be skulking in the shadows, worrying about the taxman instead of business growth.

This thread started by people stating that they were creating a seperate george account, a world of difference to pocketing the odd quid for the odd inside patio door.

All my friends and fellow businessmen say I am mad for declaring everything, funny thing is, I am doing better than most of them, there are a few exceptions out there but generaly the honest ones have the better businesses.




Have to agree with you on that!!!! Best of luck for the new year!!!
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Frankybadboy on January 04, 2010, 08:20:56 pm
400+ veiwed  this topic

but only 30+ replies.


do we have a honest lot or as dave says are you all skulking in the shadows ;)
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: tacky on January 04, 2010, 10:10:58 pm
one for him .two for me .
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: mark dew on January 04, 2010, 10:25:02 pm
I skulk in the shadows and am honest with the taxman.
Would rather pay less but as self employed, have lots of things to spend company money on which is tax deductible.
Could be worse.
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Sean Dyer on January 04, 2010, 11:22:36 pm
I think dave has a different situation he doesnt do the work so its difficult to hide as you have to prove the guys turnover etc

a sole trader can easily miss a few quid

I know a builder who puts a similar figure down each year and then makes up the books no matter what happened in reality

Im sure many do this as its easier than doing the real accounts

I am doing my first return this year so have never been put in the position before, it wont be for alot as its for the year until 6 months ago and expenses were high


But i bet theres many out there who will knock a few grand off earnings total to miss vat or 40 % tax

If its the difference between 2k off turnover or 17.5% on everything it takes a strong person to be truthful


I have been honest in everything though :)

Fair play to those being truthful , but i bet many are fairly economical but just justify themselves and still think they are honest :)
Title: Re: how honest are you
Post by: Barryy on January 05, 2010, 12:00:32 am
As an employee, at the end of every tax year I would apply for a balancing statement to the tax office, and almost every year I was sent a refund cheque for tax that had been overpaid. There's no way I would have gotten these refunds if I hadn't made contact first. Therefore, as a self-employed person, I try to be as honest as the tax man is!!