Sensible thread for self-employed people

[Bflatmajorsharp]

Could we have one please?

You know, where we don't have to continually confirm that yes we pay the same taxes as employed people, yes we pay slightly less NI but don't have access to SSP or pension contributions, yes the HMRC does know what we earn as we submit a tax return each year.

It's really struck me this weekend that offering no financial support to the 5million SE/gig workers is a public health issue.

People are still going to work because they can't afford not to. Some London tubes were packed today with people who cannot social distance, not because their jobs are vital but because they cannot afford not to work.

I hope that the govt address this sharpish. It's so dangerous.

I suggest we ignore the peoe who want to debate how much tax / NI we pay and from cus in supporting each other, the other threads have been frustrating.

I can't work out what happened with the amendment, though lots of MPs raised the issue of the self-employed yesterday in the debate. It's not clear on there position of company directors though.

That first paragraph was poor - people obviously, and focus on supporting each other!

I think what really niggles is that the government had been encouraging sled employment in the guise of entrepreneurship but really just as a.methid to artificially bring down unemployment figures. And now they've shown their hand and we don't count for anything.

All my bookings are cancelled. I have no work for the foreseeable future and a toddler to care for so hard to find alternative work. It seriously rankles that of I was an employee I would be more or less fine but because I'm trying to do something better for.myself I'm effectively punished.

I have savings, but why should I be drawing down my spectacularly hard earned bank balance (and we're talking a few thousand here, not thousands) to impoverish myself before I can claim less than £100 a week when my neighbour gets 80% ? The lack of fairness gets me in a rage. We will all be paying to fix this mess ultimately, just some will be paying more than others.

And sorry if my typos make me sound like the policeman in Allo Allo, typing on my phone always tricky.

No you just sound furious and I’m sure we all agree with every word.

DH and I have both paid three different classes of NICs in recent years (as self-employed, tax return filing, contracting, freelancers) and an absolute FUCK TONNE of tax and this dilly dallying by the government absolutely stinks.

I know its the sun.. Apologies...

www-thesun-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.thesun.co.uk/news/11239089/self-employed-coronavirus-emergency-package/amp/?amp_js_v=a3&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=15850325773703&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fnews%2F11239089%2Fself-employed-coronavirus-emergency-package%2F

It’s The Sun but they clearly have a source, fingers crossed 🤞

Praying that there is some truth in that article.

I bet I spend all day on the phone today trying to sort out bill's and benefits and then they'll announce these extra benefits.

Well as long as it actually materialises. Last week the Daily Mail was telling us all our utility and council tax bills would be covered by the government and that hasn't happened.

Employees have been given a much better alternative yet so far self employed and freelancers so far have absolutely nothing.

It seriously rankles that of I was an employee I would be more or less fine but because I'm trying to do something better for.myself I'm effectively punished.

This is how I feel as well. Plus I don't have a job to walk back into - I know some employed people won't either - but I expect a couple of years of struggling to build my business up again because there won't be so much money around.

Many small business owners take a small salary and rely on dividends to boost their income. Whilst their employees are somewhat protected, the directors themselves are left with all the stress of trying to keep the business afloat with no salary and no offer of support from the government.

I have just lost half my income for the year, which makes me better off than many as it's only half, I know. Surely the government knows that employment isn't the only way people make money? It beggars belief that so many have just been left high and dry.

Plus I don't have a job to walk back into this just adds the icing on the cake doesn't it? The 80% is to guarantee that there is a job to drop straight back into. How long is it going to take before I'm earning again? The companies that book me will have to know for certain the event can go ahead, which they won't do until we have the all all clear. And I can't be flexible because of child care!

OP, thanks for starting the thread, I really need some peer support. And sorry if I sound entitled, I'm not on my arse (yet), but the unfairness makes me want to stamp my feet and wail like my 2 year old.

My family are mainly self employed. I so hope they do bring something in fast. They have lost all income now and there is still bills related to their work coming in.

Yes I'm worried too.

I haven't lost all my income yet. I think it'll be cut perhaps in half. I have savings but they were supposed to be towards buying another small share of my flat, so that I don't have this huge rent forever.

I don't think I'll be eligible for any help, will I - my income won't be zero as I have a small amount of work online, but it won't be anywhere near enough to cover the rent/mortgage/expenses in this place (rent has just gone up, too!), so presumably I have to use all the savings up first? Some of them are hard to access without penalty.

and then I'm screwed going forwards because I'll have to keep paying huge rent, won't be able to save at all, will have a long time of building business back up.

And how would you prove what you earned monthly, if your business is kind of up and down all year? I have tax returns for the past however-many years, so know the annual income, but it changes each month.

80% of ac3 year average could be tricky as my btother only set up one year

My issue is going to be having some income but quite reduced, it's really not the time to be letting down clients, but I'm also not keen on turning down a couple of thousand income Instead of a few hundred, so I can see it's complicated.

Grasspigeons yes this is a problem for new businesses. I've got friends who set up in October so obviously haven't submitted a tax return.

I hope that that source is correct.

You're right TabbyStar I shan't engage with those posts.

I would probably not get anything based on that then, or a tiny amount. I was in part time employment until April 2019 while building my business, and obviously haven't submitted the 2019/2020 tax return yet so they won't know what I've done this past year.

And others have said, it's also about future work disappearing - if my clients' businesses struggle, then they won't have the budget to hire me.

The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain have initiated legal action against the government according to this article.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52005581

My DP is a freelancer but has a limited company (but just himself as an employee - a one man band if you will). Is anyone else here in the same boat? So anxious as he's not technically self employed or employed - do you think that will be covered or ignored? Im sure no one knows for certain, but think there must be others in the same boat. I looked on companies house and there's close to 1 million others who own limited companies but are the sole employee. Just hope we aren't overlooked.

The current suggestion of 3 years averaged out doesn’t do me any good as I’ve only been doing this 2 1/2 years and spent a lot on training and set up costs. Only made a small profit this year for the first time.

Another childminder here, fingers crossed for a positive announcement for all of us tomorrow

Joining the thread; I am a freelance sole trader.

In recent days I've been so busy sorting out my parents and the DC, and trying to deliver my existing work on time, that I haven't really caught my breath and read everything I need to read about how this will affect us.

My niece heard back about her universal credits claim and they also mentioned to her they are likely to be offering the self employed grants shortly.

Fingers crossed