Do you pay tax on survey earnings?

MissCreative

Hi, sorry if this is in the wrong thread!

I've just got my first pay out of £20 from Prolific, but a friend pointed out that I may need to declare it, especially if I might be earning £20-£40 a month.

I earn almost £20,000 a year in a full-time role, so I would probably have to fill in a lot of forms to declare extra income and would really prefer not to do that. (DH still has to fill in so much paperwork every year from being self-employed a few years ago and it stresses him out! I think I might rather just not do the surveys!)

I was just wondering if anyone in a similar position pays tax and how?
Or if not, how have you been able to not pay it?

Thanks

ElefantEd

You should declare it. It's income. If the amount makes it not worth filling in the forms, then don't do this work.

I'm self-employed and include it in my statement of earnings.

MissCreative

I'm not trying to get out of paying tax. I'm fine either way - paying tax or just not doing the surveys - just wanted to know if it had to be done or if it's something I don't have to declare.
If I do have to declare it, do I need to register as self-employed and fill in those forms every year?
Thanks.

MissCreative

Just called HMRC and they say I'll have to register as self-employed and fill in a CWF1 from.

Has anyone had experience of doing this?
Does it affect your normal salary at all?
And what rate of tax do you pay on the extra income?

Sorry for all the questions.

joeyjimbles

You will pay tax on the surveys at your normal rate - I doubt you'd make enough to get up to higher tax earnings. It shouldn't have any effect on your normal pay as you are already exceeding your personal tax allowance on there.
Just declare it on the form and they will notify you of what you have to pay - or if there's a way to do it online as I do my selfemployed tax return then it will tell you there and then what you have to pay.
Keep a record of how much you earn from which site and that will help you to keep straight, an excel spreadsheet is a good idea. Also might be worth keeping a separate savings pot/bank account to ringfence the money for the taxman.

MissCreative

Thank you Joey, that was very helpful
I'll have a look at applying online.

psychic_teabag

What's the situation if you do nectar surveys for nectar points ? Do you have to distinguish nectar points from Sainsburys (which I believe are not taxable) from those from surveys ?

joeyjimbles

psychic_teabag wrote: »

What's the situation if you do nectar surveys for nectar points ? Do you have to distinguish nectar points from Sainsburys (which I believe are not taxable) from those from surveys ?

I'm sorry, I really don't know. Maybe worth asking on the Tax thread as there are some experts there. I assume you've looked on the FAQs of the Nectar site?