Self-employed. When to register?

fira

I hope the good folks here can give me some advice.

I’m 62yo and after 46 years of working I resigned last week due to health problems. I need a period of rest and to be honest would have difficulty going back to full-time work due to the conditions.

For the first time in my life, I have claimed a benefit (ESA C) but would like to start doing some mystery shopping after this period of sickness has ended. I like the set up they have as I can choose what work I do if I am feeling well enough to do it, or not.

I do know that I would have to register as self-employed but I am unsure, despite searching the HMRC site, when I need to do that. I have been accepted by the mystery shopping companies but will not start earning until the ESA finishes i.e. in 3 months’ time.

As I have applied and been accepted do I need to register as self-employed now or do I wait until I am about to start doing some work for them and receiving payments?

Thank you very much and regards,

Bill

PlutoinCapricorn

It is best to wait until you have some actual work, as anything could happen in theory and it is a pain when you join the system and the plans do not work out.

fira

Thank you very much PlutoinCapricorn. Thanks to you too blondebubbles for the link. That's a page I never found!

I think being a wee bit of an oldie now and totally inexpereinced with all of this I just want to make sure I do everything the correct way. On reading the link I'm left to think that if my GP says in 3 months time, December 2015, I am OK to work than I can start doing the mystery shopping and have until 5th October 2016 to register as self-employed. To be honest I will register as soon as I get the OK from my GP in December hopefully, although it's good to know there's a bit of a cushion of time until I have to do it.

Bill

PlutoinCapricorn

People do sometimes register too soon, only to find that the expected customers or clients never materialise.

vegasvisitor

I was under the impression that you have to register within 3 months of starting the work, so please check this. There's a whole thread on the Boost Your Income board.