Hummingbird1
Registered User
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- 10
I am self-employed (sole trader) for the past four years having spent the previous twenty years working in the comfort of a state body. Most of my work is in providing a service to two voluntary organisations in the disability sector. My turnover has build up gradually from an initial €20k to a surprising €42k in 2008. This is pleasant in one way but, as I am not currently registered for VAT and have realised that my turnover is over the threshold, has given me a lot of headaches. My turnover in 2007 was €32k and I didn't expect it to surpass the threshold in 2008 (no doubt, Revenue won't believe me on this!)
My business activity has probably peaked at this level or would need extra expenditure on promotion to take it to a new level and in the current economic climate the expected extra income may not materialise.
Would my calculations be right if I were to conclude that at an expected turnover of say €42k - €45k and rightly registering for VAT, one would be no worse off financially in scaling back to a turnover of slightly under the threshold of €37,500 and not registering for VAT.
If this were the case, there is a terrible dis-incentive to expand a business unless perhaps a €50k+ turnover could be achieved.
My business activity has probably peaked at this level or would need extra expenditure on promotion to take it to a new level and in the current economic climate the expected extra income may not materialise.
Would my calculations be right if I were to conclude that at an expected turnover of say €42k - €45k and rightly registering for VAT, one would be no worse off financially in scaling back to a turnover of slightly under the threshold of €37,500 and not registering for VAT.
If this were the case, there is a terrible dis-incentive to expand a business unless perhaps a €50k+ turnover could be achieved.