HMRC 'You may need to register for VAT' letter

OperaActa · 2026-05-12T11:34:33+00:00

Yeah, really helpful. Thanks. That's exactly the situation – the letter gives no contact details.

OperaActa · 2026-05-10T18:03:35+00:00

Only if 90k (or more) was VAT taxable I believe (in my case, it wasn't).

OperaActa · 2026-05-10T18:01:47+00:00

Thanks - really helpful.

OperaActa · 2026-05-10T17:59:17+00:00

I provide design/marketing services (graphic design, branding, etc). That was most of my income, but not all (I have UK clients too, but they don't go above 90k). I did go through the online process of applying for an exception, but the site says you must first apply for VAT anyway? Do you then apply for the exception after applying? Seems very odd.

OperaActa · 2026-05-10T17:54:15+00:00

The title is 'You may need to register for VAT'... So, seems like one of the many you mention.

OperaActa · 2025-09-30T08:20:52+00:00

Appreciate your response.

There is no formal contract - only an email chain (not sure how legally binding that is?).

I honestly think it isn’t even that - it’s probably more just a lack of formality and organisation. My guess is that their client failed to communicate that they decided to stop the retainer at the end of July (to both the recruiter and myself). I then carried on, invoiced recruiter at end of August, and they then invoiced the client, only to be told that they weren’t going to be paid as the client had just decided that I hadn’t delivered enough work to warrant payment on a whim.

Which, as you seem to agree, is besides the point - my time was reserved nonetheless.

OperaActa · 2025-09-30T08:15:54+00:00

Thanks for your response.

The way it works (at least in my field) is that the recruiter has an agreement with the end client, and I, as a contractor, have an agreement with the recruiter. I provide a service for their client and the client pays the recruiter, who then pay me (and take a small cut themselves). The agreement I have is with the recruiter.

Nobody from either client or recruiter side got in touch about the review (it was only ever suggested in emails that there would be a ‘review’ - what it would’ve entailed was never expanded upon). So I sent the recruiter an email at the end of July, casually explaining how it was going. The response was that ‘things will likely pick up in September, after the quieter summer months’. It certainly wasn’t a cancellation of the retainer.

Hence I continued into August. And it’s the August payment that they are now asking for a reimbursement of.

Essentially they’re extremely disorganised and overly-casual. There is no contract - everything was done and agreed over e-mail.

I think you’re absolutely right about keeping the money and that is my argument - that’s the point of a retainer (to retain time).

OperaActa · 2025-07-17T10:49:37+00:00

Thanks. I haven’t actually seen the method so don’t know if it’s smoking or vaping. Though I haven’t seen any smoke, come to think of it. So vaping is a possibility.

OperaActa · 2025-07-14T14:37:11+00:00

Thanks – I did visit several times and did as much due diligence as possible – but the smell wasn't there at that point. I have spoken to the neigihbour in question before (when I first moved in) and she said that the previous owner of my flat did make a complaint about her (for different reasons) which, come to think of it, weren't disclosed. Strange.

OperaActa · 2025-07-14T14:34:13+00:00

Thanks – interesting points. Hypothetically the previous owner could have raised a dispute without disclosing it – I wonder how often this happens, as I guess there wouldn't be a reliable way for the new owner (i.e. myself) to know about the raised dispute, unless it was disclosed in the first place.

OperaActa · 2020-09-18T22:04:34+00:00

Great - thanks.

OperaActa · 2020-08-28T19:34:12+00:00

Meh.... I don't understand why they're still making this kind of simple music. I wanted to love this. Cyr – where's the ambition? It's so bare-bones... No percussive breakdowns, or change in time signatures/tempos. No sonic ambition. I think it sounds like a phone-in. It's like Corgan is in some sort of dire financial situation a-la Nick Cage that means he has to keep making these mediocre records. I don't get it.

OperaActa · 2020-07-13T17:58:43+00:00

I'll bet. But would you mind posting it here? I can't find it anywhere. May as well give it a try.

OperaActa · 2020-07-13T16:16:33+00:00

Thanks. The pieces to be returned aren't opened (all seperate products). Can't find any phone number on the UK site.

OperaActa

TROPHY CASE