this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2024
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submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

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!?

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Maybe you can use some German bank. They allow one to interact with their API for free. I use GNU cash for it. Though I doubt that you can file your taxes via GNU cash and be aligned with current UK law. You would need to check it for your own.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Is the free API part actually true for Sparkasse? I was not able to find an API solution for them. I did find something, but beyond a certain step, there wasn't an actual API.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)

https://www.aquamaniac.de/rdm/

Gives you an adapter and an standalone tool. All banks should use the same API, apparently.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago

I'll take a look, thank you

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

So you can actually get transaction information of your own account via an API via psd2?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

Yes. I tried it once with Gnu cash and my dkb account, got 12 months of transactions or so.