Left UK for Australia, decided to stay, doing a bit of remote work for UK company.

MykMallett

Posted this on the wrong board, so though I'd try here


Hi
So I've just decided to stay in Australia for a lot longer than I had originally planned. As such I didn't tell HMRC that I was leaving for good. I'm going to do that soon.

I've just started doing a bit of work for a client back home in London, whilst in Australia. Problem is that I am not registered self employed in the UK, nor do I have a limited company. So I was planning on invoicing from Australia, when I get an ABN number. The company I'm working for aren't fussed either way.

I've read that I will have to pay tax on UK income whilst abroad, but would this count? I am invoicing as an Australian company, and paying tax on it here, the client just happens to be in the UK, where I'm from.

Otherwise, the option could be that I can invoice from the UK. But would that then require setting up as a sole trader and doing a tax return wouldn't it, or could I just do a voluntary tax return and declare it as other income? The amount wouldn't be above the personal allowance threshold, but this isn't strictly honest - problem with this then is that the work I later do in Australia would mean my income in Australia is higher than I've declared back home...

GAH it's such a mess, I just want to fix someone's website for a bit of cash.

Savvy_Sue

Just checking: do you have the kind of visa which enables you to earn money in Australia?

And have you checked if the UK and Australia have a double tax treaty in place which means you don't get taxed twice on the same pot of money? (I'm guessing they do ...)

It may be worth looking for an 'expats in Australia' forum if you don't get answers here.

MykMallett

Yes, I'm on a working holiday visa and there's a double tax treaty. I'll do that then, thanks.