Quick tax question - self employed or not?

[Velvetbee]

Can someone save my sanity before I chuck the laptop through the window?

For a few months I had a little job delivering leaflets, 6-8 hours a month, tramping the local streets.

I delivered for 1 company who brought the leaflets to my house where I would assemble them before delivery.

That company described me as ‘self employed’ but I don’t fit the criteria mentioned on HMRC - I didn’t own the business and I’m not a sub contractor in the construction industry...

Was I an employee?

Sorry to be so very dull.

Could you choose your hours of work? Did the company pay expenses (if applicable)?

DID you submit time sheets to be paid? Did you submit an novice, or were you paid according to the volume of leaflets delivered?

Companies like to describe you as self employed so they don’t bear the burden if the employment taxes.

What paperwork did you received from the company with the money?

I submitted what they called an invoice, a form showing how many leaflets I’d delivered.
I chose when to work though the round had to be completed within a week. I had 2 rounds which were completed on alternating months.
I was emailed a payslip.

Thank you for your help.

Sorry, didn’t reply properly.
No expenses.
I was paid a base rate for the round for which I would deliver the small magazines then an additional penny for each insert - each magazine might be stuffed with 5 adverts so an additional 5p per magazine.

I think you’re self employed. Reasons being:

• you determine the hours you work within reason
• you could hire somebody to take your place and still be paid
• You are submitting an invoice (a claim for payment based on your reported deliveries)
• the company is not providing you the means of doing the job (ie car, bike, van etc).