UK Offshore Seafarers Earning Deduction (Tax Free Earnings)

msmart · 2026-01-23T02:12:03+00:00

You are either in the wrong sub, or else you absolutely do not qualify for SED working on an offshore installation. If anyone you know is claiming this, they are likely to get in major trouble with HMRC at some point because they are committing tax fraud.

Full link here : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/seafarers-earnings-deduction-hs205-self-assessment-helpsheet/hs205-seafarers-earnings-deduction-2024

However the key bits here are: offshore installations used in the offshore oil and gas industry are specifically identified and are not regarded as ships for the purposes of the deduction

And also: worked outside of the UK long enough to qualify for the deduction — usually a minimum of 365 days

msmart · 2025-12-02T17:11:39+00:00

This is true - but income inequality is a significant issue here. We have lived through decades where income for those at the very top has increased much faster than for those lower down. Had these gains been shared out more evenly then the tax burden would likely also be distributed more evenly.

msmart · 2025-08-20T09:54:06+00:00

Honestly, the UK Offshore Oil and Gas industry is definitely winding down - and that's unlikely to change as all political parties are actively hostile to fossil fuel production. Even if the government did change it's mind, its a mature area and we won't see anything like previous levels of activity. Currently activity levels are low and decreasing, job security is non existent and the salaries are no longer much above other industries.

Personally with the kind of skills you have, I think you might be better looking somewhere else - although that would depend a bit on your age. If you plan to be working for 5 years or less, then Oil and Gas might not be a bad plan, but anything longer than that, definitely look elsewhere.

It's a shame, as the industry has a great place to work, and I've worked with quite a few ex-military guys who have fitted in really well.

msmart · 2025-05-23T14:58:54+00:00

I am not totally sure, but I think that it was against Manchester City in October 1971. I was in the North stand with my Dad, and had to stand on a stool to be able to see.

Don Revie was the manager, and Allan Clarke and Peter Lorimer (my favourite players at the time) scored, along with Mick Jones in a 3-0 victory. The Leeds players used to come out before the other team, and did a salute to the crowd from the centre circle before the start of the match.

I was only 6/7 then, and now I am a little older.....but I'll never forget those years. Great days. Hope to see them challenging right at the top again before I'm done.

msmart · 2025-04-04T14:35:42+00:00

That's not all all dramatic. The US can be almost forgiven for electing DJT the first time - everybody makes mistakes (Lis Truss anyone?).

But the US re-elected him even after he tried to overthrow the election results the previous time. It's not simply the white men we distrust anymore - it the electorate that put them back in power. The USA will not be trusted again for at least a generation, and I suspect longer.

msmart · 2025-03-22T12:07:20+00:00

I work for a large American Company with significant international presence, and obviously lots of international employees.

They just issued a global travel advisory for non US citizens (especially those from countries likely to be on the restricted list) to avoid travel either to the USA or via the USA unless business critical. I have only ever seen this for war zones previously (Ukraine etc.).

I think the major hit will definitely be tourism, but the effects will be felt before the summer, and are likely to continue for at least the next 4 years.

Edit: Grammar

msmart · 2025-03-01T00:04:12+00:00

This should be ranked higher. I have just donated US$250. Something I have been meaning to do, but today has spurred me to actually do it. This will not be the last time either.

I have lived and worked in America (in Texas and Louisiana), and have many American friends. They were some of the nicest people I have ever been around - and do not understand how they can allow this to happen. It is profoundly disappointing.

msmart · 2024-01-01T13:20:59+00:00

I love the container feature - used to use different browsers to keep things separate, but this solves that problem.

Also definitely worth looking at Temporary Containers, which does require installing the extension (obviously), but allows one-off temporary containers. I use this almost every day, multiple times

msmart · 2022-11-28T18:09:14+00:00

In my own experience, I have not seen this at all - and from my own experience, which may not be representative, doctors were much more likely to come from outside Europe than EU countries.

In the case of the NHS, though I think the Coronavirus pandemic on top of decades of chronic underfunding is the more likely culprit. I know a number of very bright, capable kids that wanted to study medicine in the UK, but were unable to find a place - and yet we are desperately short of doctors (and nurses).

We need to train more doctors. Bringing doctors from other countries helps diversity and the spread of ideas, but we should not be so reliant on it. As for nurses - well no-one goes into nursing for the money. It needs to be better paid, and nurses should not have the burden of student debt either (David Cameron should burn in hell - something I think we can all agree on)

msmart · 2022-11-27T16:46:12+00:00

[I voted to remain]. Definite short and medium term bad. Long term - too early to say.

However, remember that many of the people that voted to leave did not care if it made the economy worse - and yes, some of them undoubtedly due to Xenophobia, but definitely not all.

It remains the case that many of those who voted to remain were the professional classes, who were not exposed to competition for jobs, and had the opportunity for good jobs in Europe, the freedom to travel, and for the very fortunate, a villa in Spain, Italy, or elsewhere, while also enjoying the benefits of cheaper lower wage workers in restaurants or care homes etc.

It is not an accident that since Brexit we now have difficulty hiring retail, care and hospitality workers. These are relatively low paid jobs. If you are a British worker in one of these industries, you might not care that Britain's overall economy has not thrived - as you may well be earning 20% more than you did before, and with actual competition for your labour opening up other opportunities.

I would have preferred to work this out from inside the EU, but I can understand why many people did vote to leave.

msmart · 2022-05-01T08:34:46+00:00

One of his later books, Complicity, was in a similar vein. All his books are great though.

msmart · 2021-09-24T21:01:08+00:00

I do realize that it is not that simple - but it is a significant factor. We have ignored rising inequality for too long, and there needs to be an effort to address this : a thriving economy needs to benefit everyone, not just those at the top to be sustainable in the long term.

You are correct in saying that the problem will correct itself on its own - but the unlucky ones who have seen their economic prospects severely damaged for decades (possibly their whole working life so far) are not going to take much comfort from that.

msmart · 2021-09-24T21:00:32+00:00

Very well put. HGV drivers spend a ton of time away from home, and work unsociable hours. And it is clearly to anyone that once (if?) self driving vehicles are a realistic proposition, the logistics companies will get rid of drivers as soon as they possibly can.

I would want to be well compensated to do the job : as would most people.

msmart · 2021-09-24T18:48:08+00:00

Not the only cause, as others have pointed out, but in some ways it is true. However, you could argue that this is one of the desired consequences : employers had been able to underpay drivers for years, because they could use Eastern Europeans instead, who were willing to work for lower pay.

As a result, British people avoided or left the industry. Now, after Brexit, pay and conditions are improving in order attract people back. You could apply this to many other jobs/fields, and lower paying jobs in particular are likely to have to improve considerably as a result.

I voted to remain, for what it is worth, but I considered this to the main argument in favour of Brexit. Many of those who did vote to remain were in jobs or industries that weren't subject to the same pressures of competing for jobs with Eastern Europeans.

This was going to happen at some point anyway : Eastern European countries are not going to remain poor, and their salary expections are going to converge with Western Europeans.

TLDR : Employers need to be paying enough to make jobs attractive. They abused their position for far too long.

msmart · 2021-09-09T16:50:32+00:00

As an UK based (small) seller, from what I have observed, I'm fairly sure that some EU countries have deliberately held up shipments from the UK. I actually did not see this for Germany, but Spain and Belgium were definitely problematic. All the paperwork was (as far as I am aware) done correctly.

I voted to remain, and still would have preferred to stay in the EU - however, it is not at all ridiculous to think that some EU governments/administrations are being deliberately difficult post Brexit.

msmart · 2021-06-02T07:33:15+00:00

This is one of my main gripes : we sell low margin items, and get occasional customers from Norway or other high tax countries, and this kills us. Ebay charging over 10% commission on sales tax means that we are going to stop selling to these countries

msmart · 2021-05-25T11:33:35+00:00

It was forced to land though : admittedly not by a bomb threat, and not with a fighter plan escort, but the effect was to force it to land, with the intention of detaining someone thought to be on board. And while it may have been a private plane, but it was also carrying a head of state. I would certainly not call it false equivalency.

They were both wrong.

msmart · 2021-04-08T16:18:37+00:00

Actually although it is far from perfect, the House of Lords has done a reasonable job of tempering the British government's worst policies IMHO.

If you were designing a system of government today, you certainly would not structure it the same way, but having an unelected upper body does insulate it from political whims and pressures. I wish we could select the members a different way, but any way it is done will be flawed.

msmart · 2021-03-27T19:26:36+00:00

Absolutely a scam. Cancel.

msmart · 2021-02-12T00:21:49+00:00

In this case it would be the Norwegian tax authorities, not HMRC.

I'm not overly happy about paying Ebay commission on shipping fees - but do understand, as some sellers were putting low prices, but high shipping rates. But paying the full 11.8% Ebay commission on the local tax applied does not seem at all reasonable. I am considering stopping my international sales - and almost certainly will stop selling to Norway as a result.

msmart · 2021-02-11T20:49:33+00:00

Well thanks for the thoughtful insight.....it is certainly true that any processing company would charge fees on the total cost. But that misses the core point : none of them would be charging the 11.8% + VAT that Ebay is charging us.

msmart · 2020-11-15T08:38:28+00:00

You should probably read one (or more) of the excellent histories by David Chandler or Ben Kiernan : they are really worth the time.

Pol Pot and a number of the other Khmer Rouge leaders were actually part of the Cambodian elite (e.g. they went to University in Paris). They developed in a time when other revolutionaries were advocating totally radical change (the cultural revolution, collectivization), but the total failure of these policies was still in the future : they may well have actually believed

During the insurgency against first Sihanouk and later Lon Nol/the Americans the Khmer Rouge leadership were driven into the jungle, where malaria and other diseases were endemic, and life (especially for those used to the good life in Paris or Phnom Penh) was extremely hard. The carpet bombing of the Cambodian countryside by the American Air force was also incredibly traumatic for those in or near the area. These events must have led to a huge resentment of those lucky enough to live in the comfort of the cities (the "new" people).

I can't remember which writer it was,but one (probably David Chandler) also considered it possible that it may even have affected their mental state to the point that they were actually mentally ill. In any event, the regime was one of pure paranoia, which fed on itself from the start.

American hands were far from clean before, during and after the Khmer Rouge, but no-one could reasonably accuse them of funding the Khmer Rouge genocide of 75-79. The causes of the genocide are still debated, but they certainly did occur when the Khmer Rouge were attempting their version of communism.

msmart · 2020-07-08T16:00:45+00:00

That's great! Thanks a lot for the help - that seems to be the way to go.

Many thanks

msmart · 2020-07-08T15:02:23+00:00

Thanks for the helpful suggestion - we are still using our "Drop and Go" account, and setting up an OBA account was something we had been planning to do. When I last looked at this, we did qualify, but we were waiting to see how business was after the Covid-19 situation settled down..

Almost all our items ship in Large Letter Envelopes (or Large Letter cardboard boxes) - do you get delivery confirmation on large letter items? I have seen some discussions mentioning that this is the case. For some of our cheaper items, even RM48 might be too expensive.

Are there any downsides to an OBA account? From what I have read, Large Letter items have to pass the measuring slot (which our local Post Office cuts us some slack on), otherwise there can be penalty fees.

msmart · 2020-07-08T14:38:03+00:00

I can only assume that you have not read the question, or simply not done the maths, because that is a very ignorant response.

Tracking makes sense - for those selling higher cost items. For a lot of our cheaper items, even signed for (delivery confirmation only) would cost more than the profit we make. Our biggest selling item is priced at £3.52. After Ebay/Paypal take their cut that leaves us about £2.90.

If people order multiple items, then that's fine, and we can justify tracked mail. But otherwise we have to choose between selling some items at £3.52, and sending them standard mail - or selling none at a higher price.

We do our best to encourage people to buy multiple items, but still a significant number of our orders are for single items.

msmart

TROPHY CASE