Category Archives: tax

Big excuse

Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 by Howie

I have rarely taken the view that the words emanating from the lips of David Cameron are little more than the verbal equivalent of honey-coated horse droppings. That is, seemingly substantial and sweet – yet upon closer inspection clearly just … Continue reading →

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Austerity

Posted on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 by Howie

It’s Zeitgeist, the word of the moment, and seems to be in use a great deal across the channel in the U of K. In context, it’s use seems to consistently accompany a justification for the slashing of public expenditure. … Continue reading →

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My life – an update

Posted on Monday, March 29, 2010 by Howie

As Golfy rightly pointed out – it’s been a bit quiet in here recently. The reasons for this have been several, not least a cooling off period following a couple of career upsets, which I won’t go into for fear … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in France, Life in Strasbourg, pointless whinging, rugby, tax, web / marketing | 1 Comment

A note from your health insurers

Posted on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 by Howie

I received an ‘oh-so-helpful’ response to my plea for financial aid from my ‘mutuelle’ yesterday. To paraphrase: Your letter has reached my attention. However it is impossible for me to respond favourably to your request for your anticipated revenue for … Continue reading →

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Game over?

Posted on Saturday, December 5, 2009 by Howie

Having finished my end of year accounts for 2009 I can finally look back at the year with some objectivity. My lack of posts here over the past 12 months may have given away some essence of the unhappy state … Continue reading →

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The postcode lottery

Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 by Howie

From one type of lottery to another – no this has nothing to do with the level of childcare nor hospital facilities (thankfully) but er… postcodes. While I accept that being abroad, and expecting to be able to carry on … Continue reading →

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A good reason to play the lottery

Posted on Saturday, April 18, 2009 by Howie

This, unfortunately, is now a subject very close to my heart – which is now not beating quite the way it should without medication. I have just completed my third year as a ‘liberal professional’ in France, and while I … Continue reading →

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Panic over

Posted on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 by Howie

It’s been three years in the making, but today I finally learned to stop panicking whenever I discover a bill in the letterbox. Today I almost wet myself when my chosen pension society sent me an annual contribution prediction of … Continue reading →

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Ouch! – update

Posted on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 by Howie

My naivety knows no bounds. The very same day as I was hopping on a train to London, another social security bill dropped through the door* asking for an amount that made my knees buckle under me, and collapse, sobbing, … Continue reading →

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Ouch!

Posted on Monday, October 20, 2008 by Howie

A few weeks ago I was gloating shamelessly over the size of my tax bill. After all, paying out just 5.26% of your income to the state comes as a welcome surprise at the end of the Summer. What I … Continue reading →

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How much?!

Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 by Howie

It is at this time of year that the French Tax directorate break the news to the general public as to how much tax they’ll each have to pay over the coming year. While I am sure it is coincidence … Continue reading →

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