Self employed - What are the benefits?

PasturesNew

OK... engineer/call out.

What would he do if he found you working for 2-3 of his competitors at the same time? Fitting his jobs in/around other jobs for his competitors?

ckerrd

From what you have said you are definitely not self employed.

Methinks your "employer" is pulling a fast one

PasturesNew

GarethK wrote: »

So what if, i work for 6 months and not pay a penny of tax, the tax man catches up with me and says hang on a second, why are you not paying any tax? To which i say, i thought my 'employer' was responsible but in my contract it says 'I' am actually responsible for paying tax/N.I on my earnings? Would they still be liable or does the contract effectively get them out of paying tax?

Gareth

To put it simply, I have no idea.
I just flagged it up as I know they tightened up on this type of activity (often for sales people) a number of years back.

Others may know or have anecdotals.

PasturesNew

I am still firmly in the camp of "No, you are not self-employed" and your employer is minimising his obligations (which can also be known as evading tax)

But, he might be clueless too. Maybe he thinks he can just go round offering people work on a self-employed basis and that's him not having to keep records, do payroll, pay holidays, pay maternity leave, provide whatever documentation it takes to be an employer.

There are a number of angles this could be viewed from. Maybe others do genuinely have other people/companies they do work for - such that they are genuinely self-employed. But at the minute it's looking like you cannot be called self-employed. While, in some cases, an argument could be put forward to HMRC, within their guidelines you're "employed" imho

GarethK

PasturesNew wrote: »

OK... engineer/call out.

What would he do if he found you working for 2-3 of his competitors at the same time? Fitting his jobs in/around other jobs for his competitors?

Wouldnt happen because of the type of work.

PasturesNew

No need to panic ... we're just discussing it.

You won't be going to prison

And you will come out of this with a better understanding of what being self-employed is and isn't.

And no, this isn't the question you asked is it

GarethK

I think it may be best to contact HMRC and clarify a number of points, the employer has 200 self/employed engineers on their books which would be a lot of tax! On some points, it appears i would be employed, on others, self-employed but i am pretty certain the declartion in the contract i have to sign swings all the responsibilty to me when it comes to tax.

In the event that i am liable and classed as self-employed, as per thread title what could i claim back to cover my expenses (fuel running costs etc)

GarethK

PasturesNew wrote: »

And no, this isn't the question you asked is it

No its not, but the thought had crossed my mind! :rotfl:

scbk

GarethK wrote: »

In the event that i am liable and classed as self-employed, as per thread title what could i claim back to cover my expenses (fuel running costs etc)

All expenses related to your business can be deducted from your income.

So tools/workwear/fuel/servicing/road tax/insurance/paper/ink etc etc

PasturesNew

Some benefits in a nutshell:
- you choose if/when you work
- if you don't want to do something nobody can make you
- you can claim necessary expenses (say lunch if you're miles from home)
- you can claim back mileage for your business mileage
- you can claim back business (YOUR business) reasonable running costs

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