MacPherson Mystery Shopping

calleyw

Shiggaddi wrote:

Yes, that is exactly what I have heard. It all depends on whether mystery shopping is classed as a job, or a hobby. I already have done a few mystery shops for NOP, and awaiting TNS for approval, both on PAYE. If I should sign up for a 3rd agency, and they happen to be self employed then I would have to consider this route.

Also, I assume the £800 is net profits. If I'm paid for example £10 for doing a job, but £50 for test purchase, and £10 for petrol then surely it's only £10 towards the £800, instead of £70, and possibly less than £10 if I'm paid less than 40p per mile!!

Shiggaddi,

Ring up the local tax office and ask them. Just don't give them your NI number. They should be able to answer all your questions.


Yours

Calley

Becles

National Insurance and tax are 2 seperate issues. The person orginally thought you could earn £800 tax free, which is wrong.

National Insurance is at their discretion. You could probably get an exemption, but the final decision is up to them.

RE: NOP job example. For any job, it's just the fee that you get paid that counts as payment. Re-imbursement from the company for goods purchased in line with their brief doesn't count as income, neither does travel expenses.

You can claim the extra milage difference if you are PAYE only, by filling in a claim form at the end of the tax year. I've never done that as I've always filled a self assessment form in, so I don't know what the name of the form is. Best to ring your tax office and ask for help with that one.

calleyw

OK I stand corrected it is NI not tax.

But if we are just talking about NI then it makes no difference anyway. Because as far as I was aware you got a new Limit on each job.

So if where you earning up to an extra £800 a year extra on the side being self employed you would not be paying any NI anyway as that is under the limit of what you can earn per week.

And all you need to do i get a certificate and then pay income tax on the £800.

I assume that is right.

The only thing to be aware I suppose is to be careful incase the extra income took you in to the 40% tax bracket.

Yours

Calley