Self employed Carer?

Ardvaark

Hi all, I am Disabled and on direct payments and am going to employ a carer myself. She rang the tax office and they said she could be self employed as she also looks after another disabled person. So she gave me a number they had given her. It is in the format Axxxxx the x's being numbers. Thing is I don't know what to do with this number and cannot find any reference to such a number on any tax info sites. Anyone have experience of this? I am posting this on this forum as I only got one response on the Disability forum and was wondering if anyone has any more info.

TM1976

She could be self employed but you should be careful with this as if she is later deemed to be employed by you you would be liable to be tax and NI on her earnings.

The number is probably a reference number from her tax office when she phoned, I'm not sure if you will be allowed to phone and discuss her affairs with them though.

Best thing is to obtain some sort of written agreement from the tax office that the nature of the engagement is on a self employed not employed basis.

fengirl_2

I am seriously worried about the advice handed out on the HMRC helplines. Working as a self emloyed person for one client does not make you self employed with everyone! The number she has given you is her UTR - it does not prove she is self employed and it certainly does not prove she is self employed with you.
You need to contact your tax office and ask to speak to the status inspector. Run through the details with them and they will give you proper, written advice as TM says.

Tarasam

To me this sounds like a Paye Ref Num, does it have 3 digits before the AXXXX, eg.... 846/Axxxxxx. If you're caring for someone they often set up a PAYE scheme in the persons name being cared for, so they are able to pay the carer and pay over any tax / NI that they are taking off you.

If it were a UTR it wouldnt have an A at the start. Is it 10 digits long aside from the A, if it is then it may be a UTR but i really dont think it is.

As fengirl says definitely ring the tax office and get it clarified.

Fengirl, i also despair at the advice given out around me at work. Its appalling.

TM1976

I know people being cared for do get set up on PAYE schemes but I don't think this is a good idea as you will then have responsibilty for running a payroll. If you have no experience in this area it's difficult enough, if you already need someone to come in and give you care assistance it's got to be more difficult.

If you can get written agreement from your tax office the carer you have is self employed that should be OK.

Otherwise you would be better off getting an agency carer.

prudenttadpole

Yeah check the paye ref num. Sounds like the tax office should sort this one out!