HMRC 'does not accept' that I work more than 40s hrs per week? What can I do?

Invalidation

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Why would anyone work 40 + hours to earn £4/5K?

If you have to actually ask that question, then you simply wouldnt understand the answer.

Sixer

thistledome wrote: »

Not wishing to hijack OP, but have a question. What about SE people who don't claim any benefit? Am asking because OH is SE and doesn't earn much, but we don't claim anything from the state at all.

I can't see that it's possible for OP to prove her hours worked, so seems to be a no-win situation for him/her. Jobs aren't as easy to come by as some replies on here suggest. Literally nothing available where I live apart from Care Assistants in old people's homes. Not work that everyone is suitable for (as shown by abuse old people are suffering in these places).

It's possible (but unlikely) that HMRC could launch an investigation. In your OH's case, it depends whether the earnings are so low as to make HMRC suspect there is non-declared income (cash jobs, homer money, whatever you call it). For you though, it would depend on them being able to prove (lifestyle inconsistent with income, unexplained savings, bank account deposits, etc) you had more money coming in than your self-assessment suggests.

There wouldn't be any question of paying anything back, as with the OP, because you haven't received anything. In the years I worked 20-30 hours a week at my business for a profit of under £1k annually, there was no issue as my husband worked full-time and I also had a part-time PAYE job. In my case, HMRC wouldn't have given a fig how many hours I said I worked for my profit.

vintagebrighton

Hi OP, I'm in the same situation as you. Many posters just don't realise how hard jobs are to come by even in so called affluent areas such as Brighton. They're not factoring in the huge student population here from 2 universities who do a lot of the p/t and anti-social hour jobs for not a lot of money! Plus, it's incredibly expensive to live here too. That housing benefit you may be claiming? Going straight to the pockets of a private landlord so the taxpayer is subsidising them rather than paying to bring affordable homes onto the 'market'.

Having said all that, you've been given some good advice about trying to show HMRC you are working over 30 hours a week. Try and arm yourself by searching the HMRC website for appeals procedures etc. Have you tried CAB for assistance? In our area there's also the 'Unemployed Centre' here http://www.bucfp.org/advice/advice.htm who give advice too but of course they're as overstretched as CAB. Good luck and let us know how you get on

vintagebrighton

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Why would anyone work 40 + hours to earn £4/5K?

Because 'work' isn't all about slaving away for a wage. If you work for yourself then you put in the hours to build a business. You don't really have a choice if there aren't any jobs!

Sixer

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Why would anyone work 40 + hours to earn £4/5K?

To be fair, ONW, this isn't really the point. But plenty of businesses do this in the early years or even in bad years. For example, I worked 20-30 hours a week on one of the two self-employed set-ups I have in its early years. But it was Year 4 before it made a profit of more than £1k. Last year, it made £15k on about 15 hours a week and hopefully it'll go on doing so. So Years 1-4 were worth it.

The issue really is only how people finance these early years. Loans, other seed capital (could be state or private schemes), other employment or top-up welfare benefits.

I'm on record as not feeling top-up welfare benefits are the correct method of supplying this finance - I think it screws both the welfare figures AND the debate about them. But this finance (from wherever it comes) is needed if we're ever to get any growth.

kelpie35

oliviaolivia12345 wrote: »

So far, not very supportive and extremely judgemental answers. Thanks a lot. Can anyone offer me any actual help instead of judgement?

Try to get a paid job, I know it is easier said than done, but you could try for PT hours and then fit it around your dream job.

Weary_soul

I totally sympathize with you. I've been reading the comments about similar cases on the CAB workers website Rightsnet.com with horror. The Inland revenue seem to going against their own current guidelines, (It's on their webiste and makes very interesting reading as they're not meant to judge on income alone to decid how many hours you've worked) probably due to A) pressure from the sods in power at the moment, and B)starting to shift the goal-posts to be ready for when the dreaded UC comes in which looks like being a nightmare for most medium to low paid self employed.

Have you tried visiting your local CAB for advice? Or trying to find a small business advisor?

clearingout

but whether you like it or not, you're simply not earning anywhere near a living wage for working what is considered to be a normal working week. I would suggest having a look at what support might be available for business start ups if you are serious about self employment as a real living.

I went through a period of self employment and it is very difficult, and you do work more than normal hours to do everything that surrounds it. And with unemployment so high, more and more people are trying their hand at the self employment making it even harder. Looking at your re-training options (which is what I had to do), is one to deal with it, the other is to take some serious business risks and make a serious go of it (not for everyone). Or, find a job and build your business in your non-working hours. All of those are reasonable suggestions for the coming year, aren't they?

lovetowinacar

oliviaolivia12345 wrote: »

I suppose you agree with cutting benefits for people with cancer or long term/terminal illnesses as well? Should they just 'deal with it' as well?

Seriously get over yourself - how can you possibly compare having your benefits cut because you say you work X hours yet only produce Y money with people who receive benefits because they have cancer or long term illnesses!

People with cancer, disabilities, long term illnesses should get help but people who just wish to follow a dream but expect the state to pick up the tab for their life choices are completely different.

It is interesting how of the long post that I made making suggestions of what you could do to help your situation you selected a few words and then decided to compare yourself to a person with cancer or long term illness - these individuals deserve all the help that they can get. People without these problems need to think of ways to support themselves more. Try looking at the good advice people have given above and focus on that rather than the poor me attitude. You can have the best of both - pay your way and feel proud and build your business so that it is successful and you can then focus solely on your business.

Another thing you could do is use some of the £50,000 or £60,000 that you said you had a couple of years ago to pay back any money that your have to. The use the balance of this money to invest in your business and build it so that it will be successful or did you use if to purchase the house you wanted and therefore have the rest of us continue to pay your mortgage. Frankly my dear there are lots of individual who come here looking at getting around the system and the HMRC are finally catching up with the people with years and years of low income and benefit claims and then perhaps the money can go to those who really need the help - like the cancer sufferers and the people with long term illnesses etc - now they really do need more help whilst the rest of us should endeavour to help ourselves where and when we can.

vintagebrighton

Think how many more people would be claiming unemployment benefit if they weren't SE and earning a little but surviving by being topped up with tax credits? There's already a million young people officially unemployed, the official rate of unemployment is nearly 2 million and rising, sick people are being put to work as they no longer qualify with the official version of 'sick'. How will taking support from everyone help the economic situation and 'growth'? There are no jobs. Period. Rant over..... maybe I should go to the discussion board