The 1st

[alpha]

Just been contacted by one of the shoots we go on for NI info etc looks like some wont be looking for loopholes after all ;(

[irishtrials]

Just been contacted by one of the shoots we go on for NI info etc looks like some wont be looking for loopholes after all ;(

?????????????????????????????????????

[Judy]

NI= National Insurance Number.

Yup, I have a form to fill in too, it will be interesting to see how many people disappear this year.

[Bryn]

maybe a chance for us newbie to get an 'in'

[Gun & Dog]

I was speaking to a sporting agent earlier in the week and he was telling me that most of the Grouse estates are down between 25 and 40% on casual labour due to HMRC's new guidelines.

One way round it for pickers up is to declare themselves as self employed and invoice the estate directly, this allows you to offset all legitimate costs against your income. This includes include travel at 45p per mile, dog food, vet bills, kennels, dummies, whistles and the like. These are year-round costs because “a dog is for life, not just for the shooting season”.

For beaters it's worth checking out if the shoot/estate are paying the tax on your behalf or if you will be left with the liability. If you are left with the liability and the shoot/estate doesn't increase your payment, it's a case of “Sorry, I know you were paid £30 last season but we’ve got to deduct 20 per cent tax, so you’re only getting £24 now.”

[Judy]

And most of the smaller shoots won't be able to pay extra to cover the tax so there will either be fewer beaters or fewer shoots. Pickers up and loaders appear to be considered self employed around here so its up to you to keep a record of money earned and expenses paid to present to the tax man at the end of the season. I have a feeling those of us who don't pay tax and aren't on benefits will be in great demand until things settle down again.

On the other hand, all those who say they aren't coming if they have to pay tax may be bluffing and miss it so much they continue to turn up. At the end of the day we don't exactly do it for the money do we? My forty days just about cover my expenses, pity I don't have the energy to do more!

[Qest12]

I didn't think people did it juust for the money.

[Bryn]

'beating only' used to be for beer money when I were a lad but nowadays I'd hope to at least offset some of the cost of my dog(s)........need a couple of years to get established though

[Rascal]

You are lucky to cover the cost of your fuel especially if you use your own vehicle on the shoot....

Hope this takes a long while to reach deepest darkest.....

Rascal

[Rookie]

I've been completing these forms in for about 4 years now...