Help me please..confused about self-employment

SoniaE

Hi all,
I am a stay at home mum with 3 children aged 4,9 and 16. My eldest has just started college and my 2 other ones are at school. I, like thousands of others, have been trying to find work for ever..it seems..
I have just had an interview with a security company for an office manager position. They seemed very interested in me and have invited me for a trial day on Monday. The position is 9-5 Mon-Fri.
The question I have is that the MD has said the position will be self-employed. I have always been employed and have never been in this situation before. I cannot afford an accountant and I dont know if its easy to do all the tax 'stuff' myself. Im a bit worried what I have to 'do' next if they want me and I accept the job.
Should I feel as scared and as nervous as I do about this? Will I still get sick pay and holiday pay as self employed and can I still claim my tax credits as I usually would be if I was employed..??
I have so many questions and Im confused as to whether to accept the job if offered (with work being so scarce) or to carry on trying to find employed work.
Any help is really appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Sonia

ohreally

I would be highly suspicious. Ensure that it is genuine self-employment and they are not simply attempting to avoid their duties as an employer.

joolsybools

I'm sorry to sound negative but this sounds dodgy to me, I can't understand why you would not be an employee for this post. Is there an end date or is it ongoing?

McKneff

It is the HMRC who decides who is self employed and who is not, you would be wise to give them a ring first.

An office based manager I dont think would fit the criteria for self employment to be honest.

Google self employment rules before you ring them.

joolsybools

Being SE you do not get sick or holiday pay either, not sure about tax credits but I doubt it. I am SE atm and do my own books, you don't need an accountant for a simple business set up. I do think that the tax man would be very unhappy about this being a SE role though.

SoniaE

The MD has told me all his staff are self employed, thats how he runs his business. Actually, the only other staff he has are all the security officers and one other chap. He has told me hes dyslexic and has had to pass all the paperwork to the other chap in the office to deal with, who is now being snowed under as the business is growing rapidly. This other man is also self employed and theyve just decided they need someone in the office as they cant cope with the workload. They have been going for 3 years and I dont see them as a 'dodgy' company. I just dont undrstand why they want me self employed?

ohreally

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/employment-status/index.htm#1

SoniaE wrote: »

I just dont undrstand why they want me self employed?

To avoid the responsibility of being employers.

McKneff

I would say he's flouting the law a bit.

If he is that interested and you pass with flying colours, tell him you would accept the job on an employed status only. And if he says no,
then get the rules out of your pocket, give them to him and walk away.

Uncertain

Whilst I agree with most of the replies so far I would just add that it is the firm's problem to get the employment situation correct so any problems would be their's and not yours.

If you have no better offers on the table I would be tempted to take it.

You don't need an accountant as all you will be doing is issuing 12 invoices per year and claiming a few expenses. There is endless advice available on line or in the local library about how to do this.

It is also easy to end your self employment if a "proper" job comes along.

PlutoinCapricorn

It sounds like a small company, so perhaps the MD doesn't understand the rules, and that he could get in trouble with HMRC if he retains people as employees in all but name but expects them to take care of their own tax.

Self employed people do not get any sick pay, holiday pay, redundancy so normally charge extra to cover times between assignments. They also negotiate their own terms.

SoniaE

If I ring the HMRC regarding this company and the fact they want to take me on as self employed, will they contact him? I really have no idea what to do and whether to accept this job offer should I receive it. Thank you all for your replies. You have been very helpful.
Sonia