Now I'm (happily) back in the U.K. I find myself in a situation where I've got LOTS to do, and when one is faced with such a situation I like to spend time writing lists of what I need to do rather than actually doing any of the things that will appear on said list!
It's actually not that pointless of course, doing a list can help one with getting the timings sorted out, and actually in the case of some of the stuff below help one realise just how complex some of one's tasks are....
My major tasks are....
- Getting the car re-imported (asap)
- Sorting out Hive Fest stuff (by 14th Sept!)
- Finding somewhere to live! (by end Sept)
- Sorting out my UK tax return (by mid October, might actually be better done BEFORE 3 above as it's proof of my income!).
Getting the car re-imported....
Technically I've got 7 weeks left on my Portuguese MOT so seven weeks is my deadline which may not sound urgent, but re-importing a car involves a customs declaration first of all with a 10 day turnaround, getting the headlights changed and a UK MOT (and maybe a wait for the garage) and then another form which I think is the ACTUAL re-importation/ registration form and then insurance. I also need to get my driving license changed.....
The order here is I think...
- NOW - Check if there's a deadline on getting my EU licence changed back to a UK one.
- NOW - Phone the HMRC helpline again (I tried yesterday, busy, couldn't even queue) and check I've sent off the right customs form. (NB there is no tax I know that but you still have to declare the import)
- NOW - Ring the garage and book my car in for an interim service and to get the lights changed and a mock MOT and probably the brakes changed, maybe the tyres. NEXT!
- NOW - Start filling in the Importation form - scan for any odd things I might need to send off for.
- Ideally by end Sept - Finish off the importation form
- Ideally by end Sept - get new plates fitted and get an actual MOT once the car has been U.K.d - maybe TWO separate processes.
- As soon as 5/6 are done (literally in the carpark after the MOT) - get insurance
- One day after 7 above Cancel my Portugues insurance and
- By end OCT (guess/ maybe earlier) change my licence to UK
PHEW... Actually quite complex once one breaks it down!
Sorting out Hive Fest Stuff...
I've decided I'm going now, gonna risk the Belgium route!
- Book a hotel - ACTUALLY DONE already - got a nice POD in a new place, I don't think it existed even a month ago, NICE!
- Cancel my damned flights to and from Lisbon, I don't need them now but I probably won't get too much of a refund.
- Sort out the Eurostar - UK to Belgium then Belgium to Holland, I suppose I'll be OK coming back!
- Pack - easy, it's a one bag trip!
Finding Somewhere to Live
Ideally I'll have somewhere to head to when I get back from HiveFest!
- Do an advert on Spare Room - there are some one bed flats listed.. apparently you need a profile for when you reply to ads - otherwise, you've got almost no chance of getting any hits.
- Find someone who can do a reference for me - maybe two people - no problem really, just involves an email!
- Do the thang below, I MIGHT need PoI...
Tax return....
I've got until the end of October on this but I should get it out of the way ASAP....
- Speak to the accountants based in the same co-working space, makes sense, if they can't help me then find someone else who can handle split country tax returns!
- Download my data for the UK part of the 2022 tax year! (actually all this is sounding a little bit recent!)
- Complete the damn tax return
- Submit all my forms and info to my accountant - happy days, except oh...
- Paying, urggh!
To do lists, final thoughts...
Actually what's above doesn't sound TOO bad, except for the car importation thing which DOES sound like a lot of hassle!
But ATM, thus is life!
So just do it thus.....
