Self-employed writer

antrobus

w06 wrote: »

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

See here;

Literary fiction is in crisis.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/dec/15/literary-fiction-crisis-chapter-funding-authors-arts-council-england

The value of fiction book sales is in decline.

Other than that, I am no expert in the requirements for WTC. But I am inclined to the notion that HMRC would not be impressed by the claim that someone was a self-employed anything working for 40 hours a week for no money at all.

I think they might view it as taking the p***.

But that's just my opinion.

borkid

Silvertabby wrote: »

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.

The writers I know still need to work in their 'day job' even when they've sold their first and second books.

seashore22

My daughter is an illustrator, but still has to do a full time job to pay the bills.

I actually find it hard to take this at face value. Most writers have the money to write full time or they work to fund the writing. I'm struggling to see why anyone would expect us all to fund the writing of any book beyond buying a copy when it eventually gets published (and is any good). My spider senses are tingling.

Alice_Holt

"and want to make sue that claiming and receiving the tax credits is acceptable/viable in the medium to long term?"

No it isn't viable.

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

"For tax credit purposes, HMRC define self-employed as meaning the self-employed activity is done on a commercial basis with a view to realising a profit and it must be organised and regular.

HMRC have applied this test to new claims from 6 April 2015 and also check existing claims to see if those claimants also meet the new test. HMRC wrote out to existing claimants about the new test from July/August 2015 before they started to apply these rules to existing claims.

As a general rule, HMRC accept that a self-employed activity meets the test where income from that activity is at least the equivalent of the national minimum wage. HMRC have clarified that claims are checked against the test if the claimant's previous year income from self-employment is less than the number of working hours declared by the claimant x standard rate of national minimum wage."


And when you move to UC, the minimum income floor applies.

"When you are self-employed and you claim Universal Credit, you are treated as if you are earning a certain amount. This amount is called the 'minimum income floor'. If the minimum income floor applies to you and you earn below this level in any month, you are treated as earning the minimum income floor. If you are earning more than the minimum income floor, your actual earnings are taken into account instead.
The minimum income floor is the equivalent of someone working full time (35 hours per week unless you have other responsibilities) on the National Minimum Wage for your age group."

See - https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Universal-Credit-income-and-capital/Self-employed-earnings

I would strongly suggest you find viable employment.

It is very possible HMRC may look at your claim, apply the test cited above, decide you have been overpaid Tax Credits, and demand repayment of the money already paid because your work was not genuine and viable.
If they do review your claim, it would be very difficult for you to persuade the HMRC (and a tribunal) that your "work" meets the requirement of a self-employment claim eligible for TC's. I'm afraid they are more likely to side with the opinion of antrobus.

IMO you need to get a job asap