In a right mess-would very much appreciate some advice

Broke_girl

I was on jobseekers allowance 3 years ago, I ended up signing off as they tried to make me do unpaid work 40 miles from home (long story) I woulvde won the appeal but I was tired of going through all that and I'd found a casual job that I thought would probably tide me over until I found something sustainable. I was willing to take the risk to avoid all the stress of claiming.It was one of those "self employed" jobs but in practice I worked for them.I told the jobcentre I was going self employed because I didn't want them contacting the employer or anything like that.at first I was earning 4-500 a month which was plenty, as I'm still living at home but then I gradually got less and less work with them, like 200 a month and less.I didn't register as self employed as I wasn't even sure I could afford to pay national insurance on top of my car payment and credit card bills.I haven't been able to find a permanent job, it's all zero hours round here, not that there's much as I live in the sticks.The work got more and more sporadic and then I earned nothing for 5 months, I was seriously considering signing on in spite of the not registering for tax thing but then I got one job for 80 quid so I hung on but now there's nothing again.I have default notices on all my cards (which are over the limit) and my car and me and my mum are both living on her pension, which is 112 a week, as she's having debts taken out of her pension credit.I really need to claim universal credit but I am afraid of being presented with a tax bill for more than I've earnt the past 3 years, I heard if you don't declare your earnings they decide you've earnt the average for your field.I really don't know what to do

Dazed_and_confused

Did you ever earn, before worrying about expenses, more than say £10,000 in a tax year. From all sources of taxable income. Which would usually include Jobseeker's Allowance.

If not then why do you think you would owe any tax?

National Insurance would be different and if your profit was over £5-6k you may be liable to pay some Class 2 National Insurance. But that is a maximum of about £150/year.

Broke_girl

No, I earnt nowhere near that much-but I thought you were still supposed to register with the tax people and declare what you're earning?

Neil_Jones

I think you need really to get the claim in for UC and worry about any "tax" liabilities later.