advice about summer work P38S form and tax please

brians_daughter

I am aware that if I only work holidays i do not need to pay tax on earnings (subject to earnings limit) but I have asked HMRC regarding my situation and been given 2 diff answers, I will ask at uni on Monday but they seem pretty clueless tbh.So really I am hoping someone can help me!


Term 'officially' ends 13th may, the last 2 weeks are for exams. I am lucky enough not to have any exams this term so i will be done the end of April for lectures/seminars/deadlines and the like.

I have managed to get a job that starts 10th May- 4 days prior to the exams ending. So do i still qualify for the exemption as i have finished, or not as uni havent officially finished exams iykwim?

I know i should be able to claim to tax back at the end of the year but obviously i would rather have it 'there and then' rather than claiming it back, it was also made clear with the job offer that the start date was not open to negotiation so setting back the start date isnt viable.

HMRC site states the following...but it could be argued I fall into working term time, but on the other hand I could be seen as not working term time as it is exams that make up the last 2 weeks and I am not needed to be present! I have 1-2-1 end of semester tutorials the last week in April and then I am finished til September!

If you're a student


If you're a student, you still pay tax on your income unless all of the following apply:

• you're a full time student in the UK, only working in the holidays
• you're returning to full time education after the holiday
• your total income for the year is below the Personal Allowance

Ask your employer for form P38S Student Employees - and tax won't be deducted from your earnings. National Insurance will still be deducted if you earn more than £110 a week.

MrsManda

I think you ought to be eligible for the P38 as as far as your classes are concerned you have finished for the summer and therefore will not be working term time especially as there's only a 3 day difference.
Alternatively, you could fill out the form on the 13th and just risk paying tax on the three days prior, its unlikely to account for much.

brians_daughter

oh thanks! The way i understood it - or was told by one of HMRC employees -was that if i worked 1 day in term time then the entire earnings would be subject to tax and i would need to claim back at the end of the tax year! But the other echoed what you have said

Thanks

MrsManda

I wouldn't class any time after your last day of lectures/exams as part of term time, as far as you and your university are concerned you don't have anything you could be doing and therefore you have finished.

[Deleted User]

If you are earning below the taxable amount in any given year - then you need not pay tax regardless of whether it's term time or summer holidays.

If it's only a matter of three days, then fill in the form when Uni term oficially finishes. Tax on 3 days won't make a huge difference - and you can claim it back anyway.

It's better to do it correctly to prevent you from having complications.

Bigdaddy

Domino9 wrote: »

If you are earning below the taxable amount in any given year - then you need not pay tax regardless of whether it's term time or summer holidays.

If it's only a matter of three days, then fill in the form when Uni term oficially finishes. Tax on 3 days won't make a huge difference - and you can claim it back anyway.

It's better to do it correctly to prevent you from having complications.

I agree...see if your employer lets you sign P38...it would be better to avoid the tax if you can..Good luck