income tax

[Keith Tindell]

Having recently completed the dreaded income tax returns, my thoughts turned to seagoing days. The following only happened to me once, and did not seem to be general knowledge, or indeed information from the union, but if you were on a ship from April to April, and did not enter a British port, you did not have to pay income tax. This of course may not apply now. In my case, i did eventually get my tax back for that year that i was away, but the effort to get it was horrendous, and took approx 5 months for them to pay out. I wonder how many guys did not claim (manz run), and bearing in mind those days communication was mainly by letter, how many gave up, regards KT

[happy daze john in oz]

It was a couple of years after I had swalloed the anchor I got a letter from the tax office in Cardif. they claimed I owed them tax. I wrote back telling them that if the shipping companies had not taken enough from my money, or had not sent it in it was not my fault. Did not get a reply.

[Les Woodard]

Tax what is that? Got to say that since giving up work and getting myself into the shallow end of the public service trough (pension) that the only tax I pay here in Oz is the GST (VAT) and any other I get back each year. It did bring back those days of signing of and there was always some one hanging around from ashore to collect money owing from one of the seaman and how we would all mingle around him so that the culprit could sign of get his gear and shoot through. Do not think that would happen with the present crews. I am sure that a certain somebody will explain about another tax that I forgot LOL.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi shipmates, Hi happy john in oz, After every trip to sea I would go to seamans tax office in Llandaff Cardiff and the very nice young ladys there were lots there ,would give me a rebate, Then I would not be skinted for a couple of days as all my money was spent on rum, beer, wine, and wild-women {if lucky} or in the Bookies' or the Casino the rest. I would waste on bills food e.t.c then back to sea again....

[Neil Morton]

I married a young lady from Oz in my local church April 1962. We chose April as we were advised that the nice tax man would give me back all the money I had given him from May 1961. Having no accountant and being a humble A/S it would not have amounted to much dough, however I am still waiting. I wonder if they would pay me interest after all this time?

[j.sabourn]

During the latter years of Maggie Thatchers rule, she reintroduced some of the small print in the tax system. If you were a seaman and you joined a vessel in the same port more than 3 times in the financial year you were liable for tax on all your travelling expenses regardless of who paid for the ticket. If the company paid for this you had to pay the tax owing on the amount they paid as this was regarded as unearned income. This hit or could have hit seafarers working in the offshore industry. However if you were a business man flying out to Japan every week this did not apply. As the business man was considered as going from his place of work to his place of work, whereas a seaman was going from his home to his place of work. Have you ever heard so much crap. As regards other tax rebates being out of the country from April 5 to April 5 was considered to be tax free. However this was later readjusted to more reasonable regulations which I cant remember off hand. I do also know that those travelling up to Aberdeen and places north of the border from England used to get a first class ticket, on the word of M.Thatcher this was reduced to 3 class until better times came along, apparently better times never came. The 1st. Class was to ensure a seat on the train which were usually full and after spending at least 6 hours standing you were expected to jump on a ship and take away to sea. There must be a message here somewhere for the Safety Brigade. John Sabourn

[happy daze john in oz]

Hi shipmates, Hi happy john in oz, After every trip to sea I would go to seamans tax office in Llandaff Cardiff and the very nice young ladys there were lots there ,would give me a rebate, Then I would not be skinted for a couple of days as all my money was spent on rum, beer, wine, and wild-women {if lucky} or in the Bookies' or the Casino the rest. I would waste on bills food e.t.c then back to sea again....

Louis I am glad to seevyou had thinbg sin the correct order, wine, women and waste the rest on non essential items such as food.

[happy daze john in oz]

Tax what is that? Got to say that since giving up work and getting myself into the shallow end of the public service trough (pension) that the only tax I pay here in Oz is the GST (VAT) and any other I get back each year. It did bring back those days of signing of and there was always some one hanging around from ashore to collect money owing from one of the seaman and how we would all mingle around him so that the culprit could sign of get his gear and shoot through. Do not think that would happen with the present crews. I am sure that a certain somebody will explain about another tax that I forgot LOL.

I see there has been a backdown by both sides on the issue of giving more money to MP's in the guise of 'reforms to system', power of the people made them wake up.

[john sutton]

I once asked a friend of mine who was in a business where "cash" was involved what he did about tax.The system he explained to me was that at the end of every day they got all the takings together and threw them into the air.What stayed up in the air was the taxmans and what came down was theirs.
Seems like a good idea
john sutton

[happy daze john in oz]

I once asked a friend of mine who was in a business where "cash" was involved what he did about tax.The system he explained to me was that at the end of every day they got all the takings together and threw them into the air.What stayed up in the air was the taxmans and what came down was theirs.
Seems like a good idea
john sutton

Keeping two sets of books was often the way it was done. But a guy I knew who had apub not far from mine got well caught out. It was common practice to skim at least 10% off the top each day. If you had a good food trade it was easy to do, just put half the food though the books. But this guy got himself a new regular customer, he never knew he wa swith customs and excise. For about three months he watched who went for food and how busy the pub was. the one day they did an audit, compared his figures with the ones the customs guy had, big problems.