[AuRavelling79]

I've just started doing this. I know I should have the organisational fortitude to put it aside and get a poxy 1% interest on it but I like the idea that it's gone and I can't touch it if you catch my drift.

[Llaaww]

I didn't know I could. Now that I do I will. Any links would be helpful.

[dave.e]

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/payinghmrc/selfassessment.htm#4

[p1w1]

I've just started doing this. I know I should have the organisational fortitude to put it aside and get a poxy 1% interest on it but I like the idea that it's gone and I can't touch it if you catch my drift.

I started doing that last year for me i prefer it like you say savings interest is so crap its not worth it.

paul

[Frankybadboy]

 but gold saving are a bit more than the average


 a gold.

[scud]

  I pay some evry month too, but I always post them a cheque, that way I feel they have to do something for their money by going to the bank to deposit it.

  A small victory for me!!

[geefree]

Oh dear scud,

You need to get out more bud !

[scud]

Oh dear scud,

You need to get out more bud !

  Just helps ease the sting mate.

  I take a perverse pleasure from it, no point in helping them anymore than you have to. 

[Nathanael Jones]

I've had a direct debit going to the taxman for 3 years now,.. in Ireland there are some stupid rules that go along with it,.. eg Any money I've paid in since the end of the last financial year (Approx €2500) can't be used against last years tax bill,.. only against this years. EG,.. they have my money, near 2 years worth at the moment, but they won't let me use all of it against my tax bill for last year.

Despite that,.. I personally find it reduces stress at this time of year and wouldn't go back to all that saving up for the "big bill".

[zimzam]

sounds like a good idea to me.once i upgrade to a mondeo and swap the milk crate for a proper pointer might just do that..........

[Clive McDonald]

I have paid by direct debit.But not in the way i think you mean.

I had a bill and that was fine, but when (as i do) i expect next years to be a whopper they wouldn't let me do it on spec.

I remember i had to to ring a number up.Are you saying they will just let me pay what i estimate because this would save me stress too.

Please define- are you paying just an agreed sum- but not against any bill? If so i'll look into this because i'm going to get hammered this year because i haven't bought any vans or anything.

[AuRavelling79]

I sat down and looked at my books and thought I'm gonna get done for about 4k this year so I'll pay in advance so that when the final bill comes it won't be such a "hit."

[Clive McDonald]

Yes i'd love to do that.

Did you phone up and agree this?

[AuRavelling79]

Yes i'd love to do that.

Did you phone up and agree this?

Yes. I suggested £250 a month and the helpful lady asked if I wanted that indefinitely or for a fixed period and that I could add or reduce at anytime.

[Paul Coleman]

I've started doing things differently in recent months.
Because I have a lot of debt, things always seem a bit tight for me so I have sometimes found myself topping up any money put by with a credit card payment when the bill comes in.  Not good.
A while back, Santander stopped showing the references for incoming BACS payments.  As far as they were concerned I had to guess which customer the payment came from.  In reality it wasn't usually difficult to know who had sent it but as BACS payments will increase, this was not a good idea for the future.  So I opened a second business account with another bank that does show the references.  Apart from one instance when I needed to break into it for my road tax disc, I have managed to live even tighter and leave the incoming BACS money alone - effectively a reserve account.  This looks like it will be just about right (at the moment) for my tax bill.
So, separating the money off as it comes ion seems to be the best way for me otherwise I never seem to be able to put it away.
I'm not happy with a fixed monthly direct debit to the taxman because there will always be the odd months where it could take me over the limit.  At least with the reserve account I can always draw a bit in an emergency.