Survey sites etc- taxes

googler

Flyonthewall wrote: »

It says that then contradicts itself with the questions below. As far as that information goes, is that even a reliable source? It's certainly not from the HMRC site. If I wanted I could set up a site stating the exact opposite. Doesn't make either of them right.

You were the one who quoted it in the first place, though ... (as if it were authoritative)

Flyonthewall

googler wrote: »

You were the one who quoted it in the first place, though ... (as if it were authoritative)

Someone else posted the link.

I just looked at that link and quoted the questions part which was the main part about whether you needed to become self-employed according to them.

At no point did I say any of the site was right or reliable. I was just replying to someone.

pweggie

mrsyardbroom wrote: »

I'm really fed up with people pretending that the money they earn from surveys isn't taxable. Of course it is. You are earning extra income and that must be added to any other income. If you go over your personal allowance then you have to pay tax. HMRC asks me to complete a tax return each year so that I can declare my online earnings. Not just the bit I earn from ads on my website but ALL OF MY EARNINGS. Yes, I'm sorry to disappoint you but that does include money earned from surveys and they do expect me to keep accounts and detail each payment from the survey companies. I have had to pay tax on this income so is there some reason that other people are exempted?
By the way I am an ex HMRC employee.

You haven't disappointed me in the least.....I have my information in writing on headed notepaper from the offices of the HMRC, so I know which piece of information I'd sooner rely on.

pweggie

Quote googler:

You may not be employed by them, but are you contracted to them? If there's T&Cs that were agreed to by the person doing the surveys, wouldn't you say that formed a contract?


The T&Cs we sign up to and abide by as survey takers are exactly that: Terms and Conditions - they are not contractual, and membership can be cancelled by either party at any time. We are members of survey panels, NOT contracted employees.

googler

pweggie wrote: »

The T&Cs we sign up to and abide by as survey takers are exactly that: Terms and Conditions - they are not contractual, and membership can be cancelled by either party at any time. We are members of survey panels, NOT contracted employees.

I didn't say anything about being an employee, but if there are T&Cs, and in return for completing the survey, the survey company pays you in real money for that activity, doesn't that make you a self-employed survey participant, working under contract to the survey company?

Flyonthewall

googler wrote: »

I didn't say anything about being an employee, but if there are T&Cs, and in return for completing the survey, the survey company pays you in real money for that activity, doesn't that make you a self-employed survey participant, working under contract to the survey company?

No, it makes you a member of a site that rewards you for being active on their site. They're not paying you a wage.

pweggie

googler wrote: »

I didn't say anything about being an employee, but if there are T&Cs, and in return for completing the survey, the survey company pays you in real money for that activity, doesn't that make you a self-employed survey participant, working under contract to the survey company?

I never said you did say anything about being an employee - I was merely setting out what is and what isn't. Taking part in a survey does not make you an employee - it merely makes you part of the demographic required for a specific piece of market research. There's no contract involved. I've taken part in numerous surveys by researchers from various market research companies, just by stopping when asked by one of the "clipboards" on the street - I've never had to sign anything, and there was no mention of a contract. In return I got some money and there the relationship ended. With survey companies we're part of a panel of members they can call on whenever our respective demographics are required. I have never signed anything - contract or otherwise - to be a panel member of any survey site.

mrsyardbroom

Flyonthewall wrote: »

As has already been said, whether it's money or items, what is gained from survey sites is rewards, not a wage. Doing surveys is not a job, you are not employed by the survey sites and you are not guaranteed to gain anything even if you do complete a survey.

Most of the people who do surveys probably never even come anywhere near close to the amount where it would be taxed anyway.

Are you saying that only employed people pay tax? If that's the case I won't bother to declare my earnings any more.

Many people earn money from surveys as a top up to their earned income. In this case they would be quite likely to exceed the personal allowance.

Can anybody tell me why HMRC have charged me tax on money "gifted" from surveys? Why hasn't this been queried? I've had to put it in my accounts and not only declare to HMRC but also to the DWP.

Flyonthewall

mrsyardbroom wrote: »

Are you saying that only employed people pay tax? If that's the case I won't bother to declare my earnings any more.

Many people earn money from surveys as a top up to their earned income. In this case they would be quite likely to exceed the personal allowance.

Can anybody tell me why HMRC have charged me tax on money "gifted" from surveys? Why hasn't this been queried? I've had to put it in my accounts and not only declare to HMRC but also to the DWP.

I'm saying survey sites state they're not employing you and they give rewards for using their site. They don't guarantee anything, it's not a job and you don't get a wage. Most people don't declare it because they see it as a gift, especially those who redeem points for items and don't get any cash.

If you think you've been wrongly charged contact them, but I don't know what you've declared.

If someone is gaining an income it is taxable unless it's a gift. For example, writing a blog and earning money from it would be a taxable income. Adsense (or whatever company you use) aren't sending you a gift. It may not be your full time job, but Adsense don't claim to be giving you a reward. It states on their site that they are paying you a revenue.

If you gained a few quid from surveys, that was sent as a gift. The sites always say redeem a gift/reward, they don't tell you it's a place to earn an extra income/wage. Mostly they tell you it's not a place for that.

Scarlet1982

Interesting I've been wondering myself if completing the occasional survey would be taxable.

I'm employed full time and earn above the tax threshold but thought of filling out a tax return for £50 worth of vouchers a year seems a waste of my time and HMRC.

After reading this thread looking at the sites I use they all clearly state they are rewarding us for our activity on these sites like tesco reward us with points for shopping.