Cash basis

Common sense is breaking out!

I'm filling out my tax return.

There's a new thing this year called 'Cash Basis' where you can choose to 'record money when it actually comes in and goes out of your business'. 'You only count the money you've actually received in a tax year. Money you're owed isn't counted until you receive it.'.

Since it's called 'income tax' not 'work-you-have-done-but-haven't-yet-been-paid-for tax' why was this not always the case?

Another quote

"If you approach a client on a war footing then of course you can achieve war. But why would you?"

Comment by someone called Mark Iliff on Clients from Hell blog

Two quotes

Two quotes I just came across:

"Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an artist."

"When art critics get together they talk about Form and Structure and Meaning. When artists get together they talk about where you can buy cheap turpentine."

Both attributed to Picasso (but possibly spuriously)

Job description?

I was having to register for VAT (not, alas, because I have a business turnover of over £81,000, but because of the new EU regulations).

I had to select what kind of business I was from a list - you type in a word and it searches. 'Illustration' was not found, so I typed in 'art'. Here are some of the suggestions:

• Jerusalem artichoke growing
• Artificial insemination activities on a fee or contract basis
• Fuller's earth pit 
• Earth colours and fluorspar mining
• Quartz mining and quarrying
• Rennet (not artificial) (manufacture)
• Tarts (manufacture)
• Plant parts preserving in sugar (manufacture)
• Artificial honey (manufacture) 
• Parts of trousers for women and girls (manufacture)
• Garter (manufacture)
• Artificial fur and articles thereof (manufacture)  
• Loofah articles (manufacture) 
• Chain (not articulated transmission) (manufacture) 
• Smart cards (manufacture) 
• Pick-up arm and cartridge for record player (manufacture)

Well, it's nice when frustrating and tedious admin gives you a bit of a laugh. :-)

Happy New Year!

Got this in my stocking. Seems a good verse to start (and continue, and finish) a year with.