Casual babysitting work

inchinga

Hi- op here,

Sorry I couldn't answer earlier. I have very sporadic internet access.

I look after the kid who's age 10 in his home. This is my only job at the moment which is fine as I have a lot going on in my own family.

[off topic]Does everyone always go through the history of a poster when making a reply? [/off topic]

I don't like putting too much detail because I get paranoid people I know will recognise me in real life.

I just wonder if it is against the law. Do babysitters have to declare earnings they earn for the odd evening job?

paddedjohn

if you are claiming benefits then yes you do have to declare your earnings.

paulwellerfan

are you over 18 years old??
signing on?

kingfisherblue

inchinga wrote: »

Hi- op here,

Sorry I couldn't answer earlier. I have very sporadic internet access.

I look after the kid who's age 10 in his home. This is my only job at the moment which is fine as I have a lot going on in my own family.

[off topic]Does everyone always go through the history of a poster when making a reply? [/off topic]

I don't like putting too much detail because I get paranoid people I know will recognise me in real life.

I just wonder if it is against the law. Do babysitters have to declare earnings they earn for the odd evening job?

But it isn't the odd evening job - you state in your OP that you are babysittin 2-3 hours every day. Even if this is just five days a week, it is 10-15 hours, so at £9 an hour, it is at least £90 a week.

kingfisherblue

inchinga wrote: »

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

Just in case the opening post disappears.

xbrenx

inchinga wrote: »

[off topic]Does everyone always go through the history of a poster when making a reply? [/off topic]

Nope, not I. But sometimes it can be useful for filling in the parts that get missed out of current post.

Nicki

inchinga wrote: »

Do babysitters have to declare earnings they earn for the odd evening job?

No, but anyone working 2-3 hours per day 5 days a week does.

I have a part time nanny who does 17 hours a week for me, after school and occasionally some evening babysitting, and I pay her tax and national insurance and give her wage slips as I am required by law to do. If I asked the next door neighbour's teenage daughter to do a one off babysit, or even to do it more than once but irregularly, then I would not be liable to pay her tax.

If your employer is paying you gross rather than net, then you should be declaring your own earnings as self employed, though if you are only working for one person and it is set hours per week, I think the Inland Revenue would consider you to be employed rather than self employed and would expect the parent of the child you look after to be submitting the appropriate paperwork and withholding tax and passing it on to them.

Judith_W

yup sounds like OP is working as a nanny, see http://www.nannytax.co.uk/parents/employment-guide/nannies-and-selfemployment for whether you should be registering as self-employed or the parents should be registering as a small employer.

miamoo

As far as I know employers can also get in trouble for employing someone knowing they aren't paying tax/national insurance. They cant just say 'I thought they were self employed'. Particularly when you are working as a Nanny (which you are).

claire16c

I agree with Nicki.

I sometimes babysit for people, but its on occasion and I do a few hours on a evening and its not a job for me.

But if I was looking after someones child on a regular basis with a set pay per hour in their home I would class that as being a nanny. I would expect the parents to pay my tax and national insurance and give me a pay slip.