. . Germany - the taxman cometh

[LonelyRider]

But what about all those people who have already done self-accusations and are going through the same MC? They are all reporting the same MC rate. Isn't it pretty obvious that anyone else using that MC is also subject to the same MC-rate?

That is exactly, what I was trying to say. The investigators already have plenty of MC documents gathered from contractors, and they state the current rates for MC's services.

[SalsaFever]

That is exactly, what I was trying to say. The investigators already have plenty of MC documents gathered from contractors, and they state the current rates for services.

I don't think having this information help them. But definitely they will use it to scare tulip out of the herds.

Bottom line is that there is no universal fixed rates, it's not like minimum wage.

The rates are depend on the your skills, position, experience, location, current market conditions, your bargaining power, how badly client needs your services, whether you speak german, how many other contractors available in the market, how long they were looking, how desperate you are etc... and hundreds other variables determine your rate..

There are people %100 legal and earning only 30 euros/hr (example testers in consumer web companies like yahoo), or there are quants in investment banks churning 200 euros per hour + perf bonus..

It also depends who you are and how dumb ass you behave.. During my first contract, I left %40 fat margin to my agent, just because I was young & stupid. My recent contract, I skimmed and left them with only 1 euro profit because they were so desperate.

Some companies pay hourly, others daily, even project/milestone based payments are not unheard of.

The rates are also relative time wise, for example, this year things are going too bad, the rates are down 25-30 percent, if you lucky to get a contract.

[SalsaFever]

At the moment I am just very frustrated, as I should have started with the local freelancer status and done everything correctly, as it is also quite a good deal taxwise in comparison with a normal employee status in Germany. Using management company has just brought troubles.

LonelyRider,
I noticed this line within your early posts and it seems a bit interesting.

If you are not registered as local freelancer, why did involved with H at first place?

And you compared freelance status with salaried employment? are/were you a salaried employee?

sounds like you and H involved in a rare 'exotic' scheme I never heard before, no wonder it attracted F-Amt's attention.

[BlightyBoy]

That is exactly, what I was trying to say. The investigators already have plenty of MC documents gathered from contractors, and they state the current rates for MC's services.

This is nonsensical.

Bottom line is that there is no universal fixed rates, it's not like minimum wage.

The rates are depend on the your skills, position, experience, location, current market conditions, your bargaining power, how badly client needs your services, whether you speak german, how many other contractors available in the market, how long they were looking, how desperate you are etc... and hundreds other variables determine your rate.

Not only that, but many people with an MC are not with the same agency (where rates will differ) or even with the same client.

Only a complete idiot would even begin to try to draw a parallel between the rates of two MC clients!

[BlightyBoy]

Blighty, Thanks for the advice... if it's ok, Could you pm me the details of your lawyer, I kinda liked that guy.

Not really, you've got PMs turned off!

How odd.

In any event, if you need a lawyer, then your first port of call should be the Rechtsanwaltkammer where you can find one local to you.

I know it's not much, but it's the best I can do.

[tim123]

I would love to know how it does work!

I think for most people, having some problems with the authorities is one thing, having your parents also involved is quite another. Its not the sort of thing most people would want other family members to know about at all.

I wonder if they would try and contact the person through Mr H?

No Idea.

I was referring to the bit about bailiffs taking things in error, only having to give back what they actually sold them for

tim

[BlightyBoy]

besides i ask you, is my english really that bad? I am translating this back into my home language (french) in bablefish, and its result is really terrible.

Good post mate!

This is what a number of us have been trying to say for some time now.

As for your english, well, it's not that bad really. Bear in mind that Babelfish cannot take into account cultural nuances, but on the whole, a well written peice that man.

[BlightyBoy]

Missing In Action

Hey mods! what happened to BlaueReitgerte??

"His" two posts appear to have been wiped. Qe pasa??

[actonbabie]

[quote=SalsaFever;810324]
[quote]

Could anyone whose house visited recently tell the experience? What are they asking? What did you tell? What's the best strategy? I wonder how they approach and how the conservation leading to the point, assuming they have no proof at all.

[/

quote]Best advice head for the border. They have proof otherwise you wouldn't have been visited. From my experience it's a smoke screen just to make you panic and pay up without going to court. As far as I know they never take it further, so go home and never return but then I was a Permie of a reputable German company.

[CodeKid]

The reason for the visit is that they DON'T have the proof. They have reason to suspect (or they wouldn't get approval for the search warrant). But that could be anything, maybe because you take a size 9 shoe or don't like Michael Ballack. If you are visited, expect it bright and early at 0700. They will have keys cos they let themselves in if you're not around. Recommended procedure (from a german web-site I came across) is to cooperate (of course), say nothing, offer nothing, take a note or better still a photocopy of any papers they remove. After they have completed the search, I am told that hey should give you a letter saying why they are investigating you, usually saying "please forward all papers, invoices bank statements etc" to them.

CK