Self- Employment

read10

Hi there,


I'm hoping that someone may be able to clarify my position as a self-employed worker.


I work 30 hours a week as an administrator. The majority of my hours are for one person, who wants me to work those hours in their office.


I do bear the cost of my laptop in order to do the work, which has been dictated by the umbrella company that this person operates under. I was not allowed to provide my own computer and put the appropriate software on as they dictated this, and I have to pay for support for the provided laptop.


I do a maximum of a 2-4 hours a month for another 1-2 other people.


Having looked at HMRC website I do fulfil some of the requirements for being self-employed;
- bearing own costs
- charge an agreed fix price for my work


However, I still have uncertainty on the validity of being called 'self-employed' if the person wants me to pretty much only work for them. Although HMRC states 'have several customers at the same time' it does not seem to bear significance when using their Employment Status Tool. Are there any guidelines for how many customers, and how long you work for each? Or am I concerned about nothing?


Is paying for the laptop enough to justify being self-employed if the person wants me to work specific hours in their office?


Thanks in anticipation of any advise

Flyonthewall

No, if you're self-employed you should be able to choose the hours you work and be able to work for whoever you want. If they're stating you must work certain days and time and for no one else then you're not self-employed.

From the sounds of it, you're basically employed by them, but they're getting out of expensive costs such as the laptop and not having to deal with taxes as that's down to you as self-employed.

Owain_Moneysaver

It sounds like you may be an employee of this person (or their umbrella company), and self-employed when it comes to your other clients.