Are Focus Group pay-outs taxable?

Daveinlincoln

Not sure if this topic should be posted over on the Tax branch but my thinking is there's more focus group participants over on this branch than over there?

I guess also the question applies to online survey work too.

So, I do about 20 Focus Groups a year and they average out at around £50 a time, I am drawing down on my pension (I'm 57) and this focus group work takes me over the £12570 tax threshold....  I see on one of the focus group websites that they say the work is "Tax free".

Is that true?....is focus group work tax free?

theoretica

I don't know - but you are allowed £1000 a year from self employment (turn over not profit) without needing to declare it for tax purposes. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tax-free-allowances-on-property-and-trading-income#trade

MollyDolly

Also, do payouts in Amazon vouchers count?  A lot of FGs pay out in Amazon.🙂

mark_cycling00

Or they pay £50 as a "taxi fare" and related expenses but it's up to you what you do with the cash.

If you go on TV it can be the same process 

theoretica

Found - if more than actual and reasonable expenses, yes they are taxable. Probably most relevant to clinical trials where participants can get larger sums.

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/employment-income-manual/eim71105