[jameslindsay]

There is a petition on the Downing St website petitioning the government to remove VAT on vets bills. We can only try! I know I personally pay my vet a fortune every year. I don't hold outt much hope for it but at least we can say we tried.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/NoVATonVetCare.

[sellickbhoy]

does anyone know if any of these online downing street petitions have every actually amounted to anything?

[cmorrell]

As you would expect, a very small number are taken seriously while most are not. I suggest viewing it as the beginning and a good way to start to raise public awareness. In most cases nothing more than that, but certainly not worthless. In a few cases various elements in the media has picked up on a petition which can be a good outcome in the long run.

[gavo]

Hello,
Have you thought about registering for vat ? At an agricultural show a few years back Customs & Excise actually recommended that I voluntarily register. The drawback is that all my farming activities are all written up and on the "radar" but the benefit is that 1) I get all my vat back plus being a farmer (albeit part time) I don't charge vat on most of my activities (sale of stock, food & meat sales from our farm shop) and 2) (being on the radar) should I make a loss then this is offset against my paye income and the taxman sends me a cheque back for overpaid tax.

Cheers

Gavin

[Hilarysmum]

Here you pay whether you make a profit or a thumping loss. 

[jameslindsay]

Hi Gavin, I am VAT registered but do not  put anything for the animals through the business accounts. I do get personal tax benefit on it at the end of the year as the animals are deemed as "an attraction" for the  business. Thanks.

James

[VSS]

perhaps you should?

[Growler]

Hi

What a fabulous idea I have just paid the VAT on a bill of £900.00 for the treatment of an Indian Runner Duck at the Dick vet in Edinburgh, not at all begrudged as she is my favorite, but no VAT just grrrrrrreat.

[cmorrell]

Check with HMRC first, but I believe you can still reclaim VAT on purchases upto about 3 months before the registration date (been a few years since I registered for VAT, so no guarantee they haven't altered the allowances).

[jameslindsay]

Growler - well done you! Many years ago I spent a fortune on my first duck and it gave him many extra happy years and I didn't grudge him a penny.

James

[Growler]

Thanks James
Im glad that not everyone is as crackers as me, all I get from everyone is "that much on a duck" she was only a few months old and I believe everything has a right to life if it is possible

[jameslindsay]

Growler

Do you have a pic of the most expensive duck in the world ha ha ha? I have 6 Indian Runners in the incubator just now - day 15 and so far all going well! I am hatching them for someone else but I have always fancied some for myself. There is something very attractive about them. I would like them but leave them totally free range, is this possible? I also live on the banks of the River Eden so probably too much temptation for them.

James

[Growler]

Hi James

No picture yet still navigating round the accidental smallholder so don't know how to put a pic on yet.
I bought 14 eggs last year and hatched them in July was successful with 5 out of 8 from one supplier but only 1
out of six with another supplier, guess which is the most expensive Indian runner. I have also bought some
runners and khaki campbells in, but your own hatchlings are always more friendly, mine will all come to me, where
as the others are still flighty but they love being in with my own hatchlings.  I have a pond and they all love water naturally, so I think if you incubate your own Indian runners, I think at night time they will come back, but you will never keep them out of the water if they have free access to it. My ducks all like their own area I can even leave the gate open and they will not wonder out on their own. I have to heard them out to put them on the large grassed area, who needs lawn aireation when you have ducks. My farmer neighbour was given some muscovy ducks recently and they toddle down to the burn and then return at night to be locked away from Mr. Fox.