Show HN: I reverse engineered top websites to build an animated UI library

Re:Show HN: I reverse engineered top websites to build an an... by sdoering on Friday April 25, 2025 @02:43AM (#43790828)

Ah yes, the classic "reverse engineering" (read: blatant design theft) turned into a quick profit scheme. Peak entrepreneurship.

Their X profile proudly displays "UK-based" while conveniently ignoring basic UK business regulations: no company information, no proper invoicing, no VAT details for B2B sales, and mysteriously missing business address requirements.

Looks suspiciously like someone running an under-the-table operation, courting legal trouble not just from the original designers they're "inspired by," but from Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs who tend to take a rather dim view of tax avoidance.

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Re:Show HN: I reverse engineered top websites to build an an... by davethedevguy on Friday April 25, 2025 @02:59AM (#43790940)

I agree with most of what you said, but just want to clarify for others that VAT registration is optional until revenue is high enough to reach the threshold.

Not being VAT registered when starting out is not necessarily a sign of a tax dodge.

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Re:Show HN: I reverse engineered top websites to build an an... by makingstuffs on Friday April 25, 2025 @05:07AM (#43791706)

This is correct. You do not need to register a business for VAT in the UK unless you hit a specific threshold of income (I think £80k was the figure when I last checked)

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Re:Show HN: I reverse engineered top websites to build an an... by crmi on Friday April 25, 2025 @03:27AM (#43791130)

These are not required for self employed (nor is VAT registration up until certain revenue, as gp points out). However given nature of business and potential liability, seems LTD company should be the route to take.

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Re:Show HN: I reverse engineered top websites to build an an... by armedin on Friday April 25, 2025 @07:07AM (#43792327)

Thanks for the advice, I'll look into that

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Re:Show HN: I reverse engineered top websites to build an an... by matsz on Friday April 25, 2025 @02:49AM (#43790878)

> Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs

Nitpick: the "H" in HMRC stands for "His", since it always changes to match the current monarch.

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Re:Show HN: I reverse engineered top websites to build an an... by sdoering on Monday April 28, 2025 @04:20AM (#43818887)

Yeah - you are right. I still think of "The Queen". Still not being used to the Brits now having a King again.

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Re:Show HN: I reverse engineered top websites to build an an... by armedin on Friday April 25, 2025 @07:05AM (#43792315)

Thanks for pointing out the regulations part, I didn't realise I was giving that kind of impression. To be honest, it's my first time doing something like this, and I'm going to take the necessary steps as things grow.

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