Running an affiliate website - where do I stand with regards to tax/earnings?

fengirl_2

Isn't it strange the way other people are allowed to post rubbish on here, but when I say something whihc other people don't agree with, I have to prove myself?
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/salfmanual/salf210.htm

motorguy

fengirl wrote: »

Isn't it strange the way other people are allowed to post rubbish on here, but when I say something whihc other people don't agree with, I have to prove myself?
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/salfmanual/salf210.htm

You're the one whos posted rubbish.

Why cant you admit the O/P should at very least phone HMRC for clarification?

debbie42

Well, I'm speaking as someone who has recently registered as self employed in the past few months. As I've already posted in this thread, I was advised to register by both HMRC (who were very helpful), and my accountant.

Registration in itself doesn't cost anything (other than time): you do, however, have to apply for exemption from class 2 NI contributions (if you are below the threshold) or they will bill you for those, no matter what tax you should pay otherwise. That in itself would indicate to me that they are expecting some people who would not be liable to income tax to register, or why bother having the exemption clause at all? Still I don't know enough about the vagaries of our tax system to know for sure.

I have looked at the previous link posted by fengirl, but it's very unclear to me whether that applies to the need to fill out a tax return, or actually register as self employed? The link itself does say that there is a "separate requirement" to register as self employed, and mentions £100 penalty if I don't. I've seen that mentioned elsewhere on the direct.gov website as well as HMRC's, without any qualification that you don't need to bother if you are below the income tax threshold.

Speaking personally, I'd rather err on the side of caution, even if it does cause HMRC to have extra paperwork (sorry!).

lisaandsaffi

I have run an affiliate website for nearly 2 years, for the first couple of months I earned hardly anything but I still had to register with HMRC (on the advice of my father in law who is an accountant). If you do not register within a certain amount of time they can fine you, this would probably be hard to prove mind but it does happen!

I now make between £100 and £200 a month and do not have to pay national insurance (from my self employment) as I am below the threshold.