On a serious note, I claim for every reasonable thing that I can, I don't lie to the tax man. If I go and and by a breakfast roll and a cup of tea, that is going to be paid for with whatever money I have in my pocket, and it is hardly likely to go down in my books, ditto if I buy a paper.
I don't think I am ripping anyone off, everyone pays an awful lot of tax in one way or another, it can't be avoided.
Standing orders for every account? not likely to happen, got to many accounts and it isn't possible to guarantee you can do them bang on time every month either, plus with a business account you are charged for every standing order.
In 24 years of being self employed I have been investigated twice so far, once was because of a crooked accountant, nightmare.
There was a little tax to find, but they went back 7 years and didn't find me guilty of tax evasion.
A great many window cleaners only earn a modest living, the amount of money that doesn't go through their books won't make a great deal of difference to what they pay in tax.
There are of course the window cleaners that earn exceptionally good money, they too will do the same as those on more modest incomes, and unless they are salting cash away in a deliberate attempt to avoid tax, it will make even less difference to their tax bill, as the odd pint, cup of coffee or newspaper costs them just the same as anyone else.
And they will be claiming more allowances and business costs.
60p for a coffee isn't 60 pence less tax remember.
Ian
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