benefits and the avon lady

Golemsgirlfriend

Hi there, My husband was recently made redundant and also has parkinson's disease. He is in receipt of dla and also has recently been awarded another benefit. I am unsure of its name because of the changes. We also receive full housing and council tax relief. My husband and I each have an Avon round. We barely make anything from them but have been doing it for years, its a social thing. We spend lots each campaign on books, bags, demo's, telephone calls, printer ink and petrol. The council says we have to declare our earnings but how can we show a true figure of what we earn?:mad:

Caroline73_2

If you have been doing it years then you should have accounts from those years. Use those figures.

bestpud

Take the last years figures, add them together and divide by 52 to give a weekly estimate.

Golemsgirlfriend

yes I obviously can do this but I have paid out bags, petrol, books, etc

pusscat

As an Avon Rep I thought you were "Self Employed" - is this the case?

If so then your income will be the amount you declare to HMRC each year, either on your tax return or your accounts.

This figure would be your incomings (money from clients) minus your allowable expenses (products, brochures, mileage, phones, bags etc) minus your social costs (tax and NI) - the money left over at the end of all this is your income.

Apologies if I am wrong, but from what you are posting I am getting a feeling that you don't do any of these things - is that right?

Puss
xx

ElkyElky

I would be surprised if there actually was an Avon representative who reported their earnings to HMRC.

Golemsgirlfriend

yes I don't usually declare any earnings as I have been told I don't earn enough, roughly £10.00 per week and yes we are self employed.

dmg24

ElkyElky wrote: »

I would be surprised if there actually was an Avon representative who reported their earnings to HMRC.

In the majority I agree, and I have seen someone be investigated for fraud as a result.

OP, if you are self employed you do need to complete accounts each year. In the simplest form these can be (income - expenditure = operating profit).

Golemsgirlfriend

Avon are obliged by law to inform the Tax Office when your earnings have reached a taxable amount, so I have been told. Anyway, I will be declaring my self employment status but need to know what to do regarding my rent and council tax. We get £50 per week to live on as well as getting our rent and rates paid. I cannot afford to lose out on benefits because I have an Avon round that brings in pennies.

pusscat

Ah, sorry my lack of knowledge on Avon :-)

puss
xx

ElkyElky

dmg24 wrote: »

In the majority I agree, and I have seen someone be investigated for fraud as a result.

OP, if you are self employed you do need to complete accounts each year. In the simplest form these can be (income - expenditure = operating profit).

I think people assume because the earnings are so low, there would be no point.

My local Avon rep uses her car to drive around the streets delivering and picking up catalogues, which is funny because all of her efforts to make a few extra quid isn't doing her justice. Any money she earns would go straight back into buying petrol for the next round of deliveries.