Casual babysitting work

inchinga

Hi,

I am currently babysitting for about 2-3 hours every day.

This is paid daily, cash in hand. Are there any ramifications to this for me or my employer?

There is no contract, but it's quite well paid (+/-£9ph) and I get a weeks notice if she needs to cancel a day, or I get paid for it.

Can either of us get into trouble?

Thanks

magenta22

One thing I can think of is that you would probably need to be CRB checked for working with children on a regular basis.

For tax purposes I really don't know but I am sure that others here would have information on that.

HappyMJ

As a baby sitter you are self employed. You need to register as self employed with the HMRC and fill out self assesment tax returns every year. You need to declare the income to them and you can deduct any expenses against this income. You can get a penalty for not having declared you are self employed.

xbrenx

Does this not actually fall into Child Minding?

Casual babysitting is more like a night out for the parents, where they leave a box of maltesers and tell you to help yourself to tea and coffee.

This is most definitely earnings that should be declared AND you should be registered as a child minder.

claire16c

Just to say the CRB thing you wont actually be able to get one anyway.

Im going to be working as a nanny and I cant get a crb check because you cant apply for one yourself, and because the parents - my employers, are not a company, they cant get one for me either.

Bit ridiculous really. Luckily they know me through someone and are happy to use references.

Im not sure what the legal difference is between a child minder and babysitter..

If you can self register as a baby sitter it would be easier because youd hardly pay any tax, if any, on that amount if it is your only job anyway.

Child minding involves OFSTED etc.

Also - isnt childminding done in your own home?

xbrenx

claire16c wrote: »

Also - isnt childminding done in your own home?

Good point! The OP doesn't say where it's done so I assumed.. very willing to be wrong though

Nicki

Yes looking after a child in your own home for money is classed as child minding and you need to be registered and ofsted inspected. You don't need any qualifications or registration to look after a child for money in its own home, but as others have said regular babysitting is employment, and your employer should be paying tax and national insurance on your behalf.

paddedjohn

are you in receipt of any benefits?

Anacrusis

Nicki wrote: »

Yes looking after a child in your own home for money is classed as child minding and you need to be registered and ofsted inspected. You don't need any qualifications or registration to look after a child for money in its own home, but as others have said regular babysitting is employment, and your employer should be paying tax and national insurance on your behalf.

Just to add to this, childminders need to be registered with offsted if the child/ren they're minding are under 8 years old, but not if they're older.

mr2gti

LOL - Cash in Hand... Tax Evasion?!

Mr Taxman will probably not investigate it - as you are putting into a pot in your main job, and it'll be fairly difficult for them to spot you "at it". Taxi drivers for instance get away with murder!

But as right and wrong goes - yes, it should be declared. It's the right thing to do.

paddedjohn

mr2gti wrote: »

LOL - Cash in Hand... Tax Evasion?!

Mr Taxman will probably not investigate it - as you are putting into a pot in your main job, and it'll be fairly difficult for them to spot you "at it". Taxi drivers for instance get away with murder!

But as right and wrong goes - yes, it should be declared. It's the right thing to do.

What main job would that be? the op hasn't been back to answer my question as to whether they are claiming benefits or not, they were 2 years ago but circumstances may have changed.