Builders (company house & vat)

NickK · 31 Oct 2018 at 12:59

Seems legit..

We’ve had a number of kitchen installer/builders around for our kitchen - with quotes at the top end of 10k (includes new ceiling, floor, walls and install).

So very few seem to be exist other than in mybuilder with less with companies house and VAT.. given the price per job and the 40k vat threshold. Next is the public liability insurance and “we can certify the gas & electrics” but I assume they are personal trade and don’t need a registered company.

Also asking for 7k in cash.. lol. How quickly would they disappear!!?

So it seems by google+companies house+vat you can pretty much catch many dodgy (read tax avoiding) tradesmen.

Any other way of checking the gas and electric certifications?

Just shocked in how many that seem to be costing me in job fee + avoiding tax and insurance..

eviled · 31 Oct 2018 at 13:47

yep, these trade finder sites are full of tax dodging builders.

I've learnt the hard way and only use people I can find a tax history on HMRC beta

Pudney · 31 Oct 2018 at 14:22

If you're UK the VAT threshold is £85k.

NickK · 31 Oct 2018 at 14:28

Pudney said:
If you're UK the VAT threshold is £85k.

Still one couple of guys were boasting they had a large 150K piece of work and installs being a regular occurrence (with materials) the income into the “company” would easily be 85k.

Buffman · 31 Oct 2018 at 15:41

I believe you can check electrical certs on nic eic website /same for gas.

Ive never really checked others insurance/tax credentials but I'm sure you could (do you care much how they do their tax affairs?)

NickK · 31 Oct 2018 at 19:26

The Craig said:
I believe you can check electrical certs on nic eic website /same for gas.

Ive never really checked others insurance/tax credentials but I'm sure you could (do you care much how they do their tax affairs?)

On principle and where I work too.

rexehuk · 31 Oct 2018 at 21:00

Anyone who asks 7k in cash I'd just laugh at them. Id then follow up and contact HMRC tip line.

Semple · 31 Oct 2018 at 21:59

Yeahhh I'd put in a tip to HMRC, I've gotta pay tax on my earnings, so I don't see why they should get away with it.

Russinating · 1 Nov 2018 at 09:57

Some professional tradesmen and outfits aren't VAT registered because it can be a very different business model and the 85k threshold is quite high when it comes to individuals.

That said, asking for cash is pretty much the surest way they're tax evaders.

Buffman · 1 Nov 2018 at 10:23

Russinating said:
Some professional tradesmen and outfits aren't VAT registered because it can be a very different business model and the 85k threshold is quite high when it comes to individuals.

That said, asking for cash is pretty much the surest way they're tax evaders.

Not if they're doing some cash jobs to evade the VAT threshold? (and therefore bump all prices up by 20%)

LeeUK · 2 Nov 2018 at 09:53

Even if they are VAT registered I've seen plenty wanting cash in hand so they can still avoid paying tax. E.g they will pay tax on some jobs and not on others.

edscdk · 2 Nov 2018 at 10:01

The Craig said:
Not if they're doing some cash jobs to evade the VAT threshold? (and therefore bump all prices up by 20%)

we had a builder that arranged everything but we paid everything separately to keep him under the VAT limit... at the end of the month we wrote 5/6 cheques for various suppliers / people

K.C. Leblanc · 2 Nov 2018 at 21:11

The Craig said:
I believe you can check electrical certs on nic eic website /same for gas.

Nic Eic are not the only scheme for electricians, off the top of my head there's also Napit, Stroma and Elecsa.

NickK · 4 Nov 2018 at 02:18

Finally found someone that is doing a reasonable price, doesn’t scream dodgy and seems a decent bloke.