Prolific Academic Survey Alerts

olliebean

All I can find in the Prolific FAQs says that they do not report our rewards to the revenue service (https://participant-help.prolific.com/hc/en-gb/articles/4407410581394-How-much-have-I-earned-from-Prolific-and-do-I-have-to-pay-tax). Elsewhere (most authoritatively, at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/selling-online-and-paying-taxes/selling-online-and-paying-taxes-information-sheet), I have seen indications that "online marketplaces" will be required to report seller income by the start of next year, but I have yet to see any definitive indication whether Prolific or other survey sites count as online marketplaces for tax purposes. I'm unsure whether it fits the definition given on that page.

householder7

Hmm. Prolific may count as earnings via a platform for reporting purposes even if not a marketplace as such, it's a matter of picking the bones out of what is & isn't included even if not online selling as such. Cashback isn't for example, things like Air BNB are.

It all seems a bit muddy waters in the sense that you could technically have an account on several platforms all earning under the thresholds, not sure how they will tie one person's stuff together then. Even the dates etc are a bit ambiguous when you first read 'from next year', as it means sites like ebay will report on Jan next year but on the trading from 2024, not from Jan 2025 on.

silvercar

householder7 said:

Hmm. Prolific may count as earnings via a platform even if not a marketplace as such, it's a matter of picking the bones out of what is & isn't included even if not online selling as such. Cashback isn't for example, things like Air BNB are.

It all seems a bit muddy waters in the sense that you could technically have an account on several platforms all earning under the thresholds, not sure how they will tie one person's stuff together then. Even the dates etc are a bit ambiguous when you first read 'from next year', as it means sites like ebay will report on Jan next year but on the trading from 2024, not from Jan 2025 on.

Cashback isn’t included as it requires you to spend money, it would be a grey line between cashback sites and say Tesco giving a discount for using a Clubcard.

For reward sites eg surveys, prolific, market research etc if you have the option of cash (including PayPal) it is potentially taxable, if the only option is a gift voucher it is not taxable. If you have a choice, then it’s taxable.  

libra10

In that case, survey sites where you redeem rewards in vouchers, ie Amazon, Marks & Spencer, etc. are not taxable?

olliebean

Perhaps we will eventually get a definitive answer on this from HMRC, but I do think it would be a ridiculous state of affairs to expect someone to register as a sole trader for the purpose of doing online surveys.

The other year I was offered a chance to participate in a clinical study, which would have paid over £1000 for the year in total - in the event I didn't, but that seems a similar situation to participating in academic studies; would I have been expected to register as a sole trader to declare that income?

Slinky

Slinky said:

Dont do

Image Labeling

By Xing Zhang

$4.00 • $8.36/hr

28 mins

16 places

Limited capacity

In this study, you will be shown a series of images and asked to provide feedback on them.

Devices you can use to take this study:

Takes waaaaay longer than the 20 minutes they are paying for. 45 images with 9 questions per image. I've just messaged the researcher and checked the time, it took me 39 minutes and I wasn't taking my time

I'm not sure what's going on with this one. I've definitely only been paid 4 dollars, (see totals on screenshot, the 35 cents was from another survey), but when I click into the survey it's showing an enhanced rate that takes it back up to the equivalent of 4 dollars for 20 minutes which is what was being offered in the first place. I obviously haven't had any extra payment. What do I do now? Any ideas?

silvercar

libra10 said:

In that case, survey sites where you redeem rewards in vouchers, ie Amazon, Marks & Spencer, etc. are not taxable?

If you have the option for bank transfer/ PayPal etc but choose vouchers then it is still taxable. If the only options are vouchers then it is not taxable. When I have more time I will find the official source.

silvercar

olliebean said:

Perhaps we will eventually get a definitive answer on this from HMRC, but I do think it would be a ridiculous state of affairs to expect someone to register as a sole trader for the purpose of doing online surveys.

The other year I was offered a chance to participate in a clinical study, which would have paid over £1000 for the year in total - in the event I didn't, but that seems a similar situation to participating in academic studies; would I have been expected to register as a sole trader to declare that income?

I think payments from clinical trials are classified as stipends, which is yet another category of income and a further grey area. Stipends are designed to cover expenses; indeed medical study regulations have their own guidelines on the profit element to participants in studies.

olliebean

silvercar said:

olliebean said:

Perhaps we will eventually get a definitive answer on this from HMRC, but I do think it would be a ridiculous state of affairs to expect someone to register as a sole trader for the purpose of doing online surveys.

The other year I was offered a chance to participate in a clinical study, which would have paid over £1000 for the year in total - in the event I didn't, but that seems a similar situation to participating in academic studies; would I have been expected to register as a sole trader to declare that income?

I think payments from clinical trials are classified as stipends, which is yet another category of income and a further grey area. Stipends are designed to cover expenses; indeed medical study regulations have their own guidelines on the profit element to participants in studies.

This was definitely payment for the trial and not intended to cover expenses. Expenses were claimable in addition.

[Deleted User]

Just did the 

Personality and Writing Set Four 

Survey looking at 15 sets of writing from 21 year olds it said it would take 30 mins but took over an hour