Vat reporting changes

Three ironic cheers for HMRC.

At the moment, in order to report my VAT numbers and how much tax to pay, I log into their web site and type the numbers into a form. Simple.

But I've just heard that they are "going digital". In future, I will have to type the numbers into a Excel spreadsheet and run some software that transmits the same numbers to HMRC. I wonder if that software will work on Linux? Fortunately, I still have a Windows computer, and I probably have an old copy of Excel somewhere.

How is that an advance?

Meanwhile, at the end of next March, we leave the EU. Unless we don't. And at that point, what happens with VAT?

At the moment, I charge VAT on all sales to EU countries, at the various VAT rates of each country, and then I use a thing called "VAT MOSS" to pay the VAT to the 27 EU countries. On sales to non-EU countries, such as the USA, I don't charge VAT, because they aren't EU.

What happens after March 29?

I have no idea. HMRC has no idea. HMG has no idea. Seven months from now, it all changes, and no-one knows what it changes to.

Instead of messing around with how I report UK VAT, they should be sorting out what's going to happen with VAT and Brexit.

Beep beep UPS

I was doing some routine maintenance in the Data Shed, and it gradually dawned on my that I could hear a beep beep noise, as of a machine in distress. My binaural beep-location soon tracked it down, it was the UPS that protects the router that converts the fibre optic cables from the street outside, to the ethernet that the data shed requires.

This device has two power inputs, which is a good idea for such a critical piece of kit. It means that if one power cable goes down, the router will continue to work. So I have each of those inputs on a different UPS.

I tried powering the UPS off and on again, that didn't work. So I decided to just bypass it, and connect that power input, straight to the power mains, without the UPS.

I did that, but the red light on the router was still on, indicating that it was only getting power from one source, the remaining UPS.

Which, now that the louder beep was silenced, I noticed was flashing its lights in a "help help" manner.

And then I realised that the two UPSes were on the same 13 amp power main, and that the neon light indicating power on the six-way strip, was off. Meaning, that there was no power going to the UPSes, and that explained the distress signals they were both giving me.

And then I noticed that the trip on the fuse box had gone. I still call it a fuse box, even though fuses on house supplies are long gone. So I flicked the trip, power was restored, and the UPSes stopped making distress signals.

And then I thought. I've been silly. I should not have had both UPSes on the same 13 amp mains power!

Fortunately, no harm done in this case. So I ran a power lead from another 13 amp mains supply to one of the UPSes, and now each UPS is on a different power supply.

Blackmail!

From: Angie

Subject: hammer45

It seems that, (hammer45), is your password. You might not know me and you are most likely
wondering why you are getting this e mail, right?

in fact, I put in place a spyware on the adult vids (adult porn) web site and guess what, you
visited this web site to have fun (you know what What i'm saying is). During the time you were watching videos, your internet browser started off functioning as a RDP (Remote Desktop) which gave me accessibility of your screen and webcam. after that, my computer software obtained all of your current contacts from the Messenger, Outlook, FB, along with emails.

What did I really do?

I created a double-screen video. First part shows the recording you're seeing (you have a good taste haha . . .), and Second part shows the recording of your webcam.

what exactly should you do?

Well, I think, $11000 is really a reasonable price for our little secret. You'll make the
payment by Bitcoin (if you don't know this, search "how to purchase bitcoin" search engines like google).

Bitcoin Address: 16GcAcYntnJjJP1uApyYiuZRW5ryaf3Fsv
(It is case sensitive, so copy and paste it)

Important:
You've few days in order to make the payment. (I have a special pixel in this e mail, and at
this moment I know that you have read through this email message). If I do not get the BitCoins,
I will certainly send your video recording to all of your contacts including family, coworkers,
and so on. Having said that, if I get the payment, I'll destroy the video immidiately. If you'd
like evidence, reply with "Yes!" and I will definitely send out your videos to your 6 contacts.
It is a non-negotiable offer, that being said don't waste my personal time and yours by
answering this message.

This is a very old linkedin password (changed ages ago). And, of course, I haven't used it anywhere else.  I received six emails like this, asking for different amounts and with different bitcoin addresses. Also, the email itself was a bit randomised, using different words.

I wasn't aware that linkedin had been hacked, but on checking, I found that 117 million account details are for sale on the dark web, as of a couple of years ago. I do vaguely remember that I might have read abut this hack.

The email came from info@ednawest.com

If you get an email like this, don't worry. If you haven't changed your linkedin password for a while, change it now.