I’ve run a small business for over 10 yeas. I use linux. I’m grateful to the community and I use FOSS where possible.
I have had some issues over the years, but have always been able to get around them (except CAD in 2013), but recently I’ve had issues with my government (UK). First they introduced ‘making tax digital’ and told me for years that I would have to buy windows only software (there was no legal option on linux until a few weeks before the deadline (https://www.comsci.co.uk/100PcVatFreeBridge saved the day). The UK Government didn’t create a free solution or any route to that as they don’t want the source to be open for making tax digital so accounting software companies have made a killing!
This week my internet banking stopped allowing payments, it no longer works in firefox (I’m guessing). On the telephone they asked me ‘what search engine I was using’+ and advised to use google.
What is the best UK business bank to use if you use linux to run a small business? Do I have to use Chrom(e)ium? Does anyone else use linux for business admin? Is anyone (Freesoftware foundation, etc) thinking about the creeping legislative changes that make it literally illegal to use FOSS and linux?
I wanna be an ally, but its so tiring.
+ browser ≠ search engine. Yes, I’m pedantic, at least I didn’t confuse them by saying ‘quant’ or ‘duck duck go’, OK!?
Damn, you got a lot of replies and no one said to just use paper forms.
Idk if the uk allows it still, it’d be surprising if it didn’t though.
Surprise! :D The project was called ‘making tax digital’ it was expressly to remove paper forms for VAT.
When you say it doesn’t work in Firefox, does it not work in Firefox or does it say it doesn’t work in Firefox? In the later case and sometimes in both, I have found that just changing the user agent string to something chrome based is sufficient to get it working again.
The UK Government didn’t create a free solution
You mean you must use their software to do taxes or what?
Back in my neck of the woods you either do them on paper (almost no one) or you submit online… They have well-defined APIs and you can use whatever you want (the IRS submission does use some java crap underneath but it’s fluid and you can save your progress in an XML file).
Although for most people it’s just a matter of logging in, checking that everything is in order, and clicking submit.
I’m grateful to the community and I use FOSS where possible.
Ok, but do you give anything back?
If you use Mettle, the phone based bank, you get FreeAgent for free. FreeAgent is a really good web based accounting package that works in Firefox. They gave a useful accompanying API and can do payroll, VAT, end of year and director self assessment. It’s great.
