Self-employed writer

drewdrewdrew

Hi all,

So I am currently claiming tax credits. I work 40 hours a week writing a novel.

But no earnings as of yet.

I am planning my budget and want to make sue that claiming and receiving the tax credits is acceptable/viable in the medium to long term?

I am receiving the maximum award at present and have been for over a year.

DrewDrewDrew

trigger_fish

drewdrewdrew wrote: »

Hi all,

So I am currently claiming tax credits. I work 40 hours a week writing a novel.

But no earnings as of yet.

I am planning my budget and want to make sue that claiming and receiving the tax credits is acceptable/viable in the medium to long term?

I am receiving the maximum award at present and have been for over a year.

DrewDrewDrew

Where is the question?

Darksparkle

These will be worth a read -

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/tax-credits-technical-manual/tctm02415

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/tax-credits-technical-manual/tctm02453

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/claimant-compliance-manual/ccm6760

drewdrewdrew

Am I okay claiming WTC as a person earning nothing but working 40 hours a week?

Darksparkle

drewdrewdrew wrote: »

Am I okay claiming WTC as a person earning nothing but working 40 hours a week?

No one here can answer that question especially with having no information on your circumstances. That will be for them to decide (if selected for a check) based on the evidence you submit showing that you meet the criteria as per the links I posted.

[Deleted User]

drewdrewdrew wrote: »

Am I okay claiming WTC as a person earning nothing but working 40 hours a week?

If you are still Earning nothing from 40hrs work after a year you need a new Job!

w06

https://revenuebenefits.org.uk/tax-credits/guidance/how-do-tax-credits-work/self-employed/

have a read of the other links and this one, you'll then be able to decide for yourself

Teahfc

The HMRC compliance manual states that any hours which will be costed to the client/customer as spent in producing/providing the individual order or service count when working out hours for self-employment. In addition, the following activities also count:

for example where the claimant is an established author. Research carried out be persons who are not established authors, but are working in the hope of one day becoming established will not count.

Reading through that can you not get a minimum wage job for minimum 16 hours and work on your novel round that so you can get WTC?

FBaby

Is this your first book writing? What kind of book is it? How much research does it involve?

On the face value of it, 40 hours x 46 weeks is a very long time to write a book that is still not finished. Or is it finished but you're struggling to get it published.

In any case, yes, be prepared that hmrc could very much question that your work doesn't mean the rules.

Silvertabby

Writing for 40 hours a week but not getting paid for it isn't a job - it's a hobby!

As far as I know, most writers support themselves by working in other jobs until they start selling their work.

w06

and most books that sell don't produce an income sufficient to sustain their authors as a sole source of income