Mystery Shopping - registering for self-employment.

ghostmadlittlemiss

I have my first mystery shopping assignment booked for next month and I'm trying to register as self-employed. Where it asks when did I start working for myself, should I put the date of my first assignment, even thought it's in the future? And a bigger problem, what do I put it the bit where it asks for the business address and postcode? Do I just put my own? I've never done this before and I'm really nervous.
Kayleigh

lozza1985

Maybe give your local tax office a call? They should be able to help you in filling out the details. If you keep any receipts for costs incurred, your fuel etc, then you can claim some of it back I think when you fill in your end of year tax return. If its a mystery shopping website you get your work from, then I would think you could
put your internet charges in as well, because without the internet you obviously wouldn't be able to get the work! If you can put enough things in then you shouldn't have to pay much, if any, tax.

I'm not sure on the finer points though I've asked my mother-in-law to fill out my tax forms for me (I've started doing Avon) as she does them for her husband - I wouldn't have a clue where to start!

roboticpink

I don't think you are allowed to register as self employed before the date you "become" self employed.

I am both self employed and PAYE all it means is you have to fill in a tax return at the end of the tax year (booooooo). It doesn't affect anything else.

So what I guess I am saying is you should put today's date; it doesn't actually make any difference as far as HMRC are concerned you just will be running a really rubbish business that doesn't make any money for the next month :rolleyes:

HTH!

ghostmadlittlemiss

Thanks for all the advice so far. I'm guessing I just put my own address in the business address bit, right?
Kayleigh

starbump

ghostmadlittlemiss wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice so far. I'm guessing I just put my own address in the business address bit, right?
Kayleigh

Yes, put your own address. And, as roboticpink says, you can put the date as now if you want to. There is no requirement for your business to turn a profit - you can even make a loss! However, there are penalties for registering too late (I think you have 3 months max from when you start being self-employed) so you might as well do it early.

Do you have another job, btw?

You can set your personal tax code, whatever it is these days 600L or some such, against any one of your employed/PAYE jobs or your self-employed business - the rest you will pay the BR (no tax free allowance) code on. Technically, it makes no difference as you end up paying the same amount of tax over the course of the year - it just changes whether you pay extra at the end of the year or claim a rebate i.e. either you earn extra bank interest or the "taxman" does.

Also, if you are employed and thus paying regular class 1 N.I., then you might as well apply for the small earnings exception certificate so you won't have to pay class 2 N.I. for the self-employed. However, if you don't have another job paying N.I. it is false economy not to pay the £2.30 per week self-employed N.I. as it protects your right to claim basic state pension, maternity allowance, etc.

Hope that made sense - late night pregnancy insomnia!

debt_free_me

Hi
I had this question when I started mystery shopping and in the end I rung up the tax office and did it over the phone so I knew what I was doing and asked them questions as we went along. Hardly took any time at all, I was really suprised and thought, is that it? I asked what date do you put for when you started working for yourself and I was told the first assignment date. If you get told any different from them though please let me know. Hope this helps.

stephen77

If just earning a small amount, ask for tax exemption form as well.

Merlinexcalibur

Question: why are you trying to register as 'self employed?' I was under the impression that students were allowed to become mystery shoppers, given it's not exactly full employment and is really just market research when said and done ... perhaps it would even be more beneficial in some situations ... Just I'm a little puzzled over this other post of yours where no mention is made of self employment at all ..

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=18088269#post18088269

I'm just saying because wouldn't it be gaining employment by deception? It's just something I think you might need to be aware of.

darlo_fan

I have found myself to have a bit of a problem I started MS about Sept last year, and forgot to register as self employed. So in November I wrote asking for what I needed to complete, then for one reason or another it completely slipped my mind, and I havent actually completed any paperwork as I havent got any.

Can I resolve this without getting into trouble?

Caroline73_2

Merlinexcalibur wrote: »

Question: why are you trying to register as 'self employed?' I was under the impression that students were allowed to become mystery shoppers, given it's not exactly full employment and is really just market research when said and done ... perhaps it would even be more beneficial in some situations ... Just I'm a little puzzled over this other post of yours where no mention is made of self employment at all ..

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=18088269#post18088269

I'm just saying because wouldn't it be gaining employment by deception? It's just something I think you might need to be aware of.

I'm confused by what you are saying? Mystery shoppers are self employed and hire out their services to the MS companies. I have never heard of students not being allowed - why wouldn't they?

How would the OP be gaining employment by deception?

Caroline73_2

darlo_fan wrote: »

I have found myself to have a bit of a problem I started MS about Sept last year, and forgot to register as self employed. So in November I wrote asking for what I needed to complete, then for one reason or another it completely slipped my mind, and I havent actually completed any paperwork as I havent got any.

Can I resolve this without getting into trouble?

I would just ring and be honest - you shouldn't have need to submit your accounts yet so I doubt they would punish you. You can do it on the phone which is easier than posting.