Is this Employed or Self-Employed?

urban_spirit

I've been offered ad hoc work of (on average) between 2 and 6 hrs a week, the person offering has suggested for it to be self-employed and an acountant will sort out the tax/NI. There's no guarantee that this will be every week, and the person offering the work has set the rate and said it will go through his books(?).

For the rest of the working week i'm looking to work for an employer, not self-employment.


Is this employed or self-employed work? Does putting it through his books mean i'm a PAYE employee? I have very limited knowledge of self-employment but to employ an accountant and do all the paperwork etc for such a small amount of hours seems non-cost effective. I'm not sure where the line is between being an employee and self-employed, can anyone advise?

Cheers all.

Caroline73_2

If he's setting the rate and choosing your hours then you are employed. There is nothing self employed about this at all.

fengirl_2

This is a bit muddled - the employer is saying you will be self employed and yet he will sort out the tax and NI! I think you are a casual employee.

max2009

Caroline73 wrote: »

If he's setting the rate and choosing your hours then you are employed. There is nothing self employed about this at all.

A friend works as a self-employed driver and he was told he will work 15-20 hours a week at a set rate per hour.He invoices the company he works for every month.I know many others in the same position and what you said above is false.The OP can work self-employed for other companies as well as the one listed above who wants them to work 2-6 hours a week.

McKneff

I wouldnt have thought you would pay tax and NI on 2 to 6 hours a week. Think on if you are self employed you will have to send him invoices, etc.
Are you claiming any benefits it might affect.
I dont think i would bother to be honest for the amount of hours he would want you for especially if you are looking for full time employed employment.

urban_spirit

fengirl wrote: »

This is a bit muddled - the employer is saying you will be self employed and yet he will sort out the tax and NI! I think you are a casual employee.

He's suggested it to be self-employed, he hasn't said it is. He said an accountant will sort out tax/NI - an accountant appointed by me, not his.


He did say it will be put through his books - does putting a person through the books mean paying tax/NI for them? I've heard the phrase before but am not clear on what it means. And does putting me through the books make me a PAYE employee?

fengirl_2

Putting you through the books means he gets a tax deduction for what he pays you - nothing to do with your tax.
I think this is casual employment, not self employment - you are working on his premises at a rate set by him and you are not risking your capital and I assume you can't send anyone else to do the work.

urban_spirit

anniehanlon wrote: »

I wouldnt have thought you would pay tax and NI on 2 to 6 hours a week. Think on if you are self employed you will have to send him invoices, etc.
Are you claiming any benefits it might affect.
I dont think i would bother to be honest for the amount of hours he would want you for especially if you are looking for full time employed employment.

This is only a very temporary situation to keep the roof over my head until I find employment, and when I do I suspect i'll pay tax on both the employed and self-employment (if it is) earnings.
Not in receipt of benefits at the moment but am about to (reluctantly) submit a claim for them. I thought about the invoices too but need to clarify whether it's self-empl. or not.
I advised him I want to keep things simple, and I agree it's a lot of faffing for such a small amount of hours.

urban_spirit

max2009 wrote: »

A friend works as a self-employed driver and he was told he will work 15-20 hours a week at a set rate per hour.He invoices the company he works for every month.I know many others in the same position and what you said above is false.The OP can work self-employed for other companies as well as the one listed above who wants them to work 2-6 hours a week.

This is what's confusing. I've heard of circs. similar to your friends but i'm not sure where the line is between casual employment and being self-employed - ?
I did think it was going to be casual employment, but then self-empl.was suggested.

cue

in PAYE Terms if he pays your NI and tax you're employed - if you pay it (whether direct to the taxman or via an accountant then it's self employed.

It matters not if they are setting your hours or not as it can be stipulated as part of an interim or permanent self employed contract

If you have no contract, this is casual employed status - you can be casually employed and casually self employed, so again it all depends on who pays you're NI/PAYE.

It's black and white, looking at your circumstance it's not clear whether he is paying your NI or not, as he seems to have hinted at you being Self employed (asking you to sort an accountant) yet saying he would put you through his books. I assume this means him processing your invoices - which will be for a set amount as he is saying he'll pay you £x for X hours.

It sounds as though you will be self employed to me.