self employed, where do I start?

bashful_lass

hello, I will be starting a new job in july with a private school. In september I will be working at a couple of different schools.

when and how do I register with HMRC?

is registered as a self employed trader different from a self assessment?

sorry for the questions, but Im a total novice!

thanks

PlutoinCapricorn

To start with, many people complete a self assessed tax return without actually being self employed. This is because they have some untaxed income that does not come from work.

You need to register as a sole trader with HMRC as soon as you have actually started work, not in advance.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/register-selfemp.htm


Also read through https://www.businesslink.gov.uk for issues relevant to you.

PlutoinCapricorn

I did not express it very well: I was trying to say that while all sole traders must complete a self assessment return, not everyone who self assesses is a sole trader.

Are you happy that the terms under which you will be working fit HMRC's definition of self employment?

bashful_lass

hello and thanks. yes I think so. I will be working in different schools. no school is connected to the next.

PlutoinCapricorn

The schools should know the rules: so long as there is no regular commitment and you have more than one client it should be ok.

You need to invoice the schools, and keep good records of business expenses. Your first tax return will be due after April 5th next year, and you have until January 31st 2014 to complete it if you file online, which is recommended.

pleasedelete

What job will you be doing? You can't just neccesarily decide to be self employed. If its a job it's usually not self employment.

pleasedelete

What about crb? How has that been done? I can't think of any job in a school that would be self employed.

jimmo

pleasedelete wrote: »

I can't think of any job in a school that would be self employed.

How about peripatetic music teachers?

They are self employed when they are paid by the parents rather than the school.

Here’s an example.

http://www.hendonprep.co.uk/peripatetic-music-lessons.html

pleasedelete

jimmo wrote: »

How about peripatetic music teachers?

They are self employed when they are paid by the parents rather than the school.

Here’s an example.

http://www.hendonprep.co.uk/peripatetic-music-lessons.html

But that wouldn't be described as starting a new job. You would be invoicing lots of different of parents and your contract would be with them not the school.

Hmrc is quite strict about qts teachers and tax - used to be easier to be self employed or work through company but been various cases etc. Crb and pensions are also an issue.