Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Money matters

Find financial and money-saving discussions including debt and pension chat on our Money forum. If you're looking for ways to make your money to go further, sign up to our Moneysaver emails here.

Do I have to register as an employer?

1 reply

knakered · 19/02/2007 11:48

I ama sole trader and wanted to employ someone to do my admin - as it is pt a few hrs week and wont reach the personal tax threashold of £5/yr - do I officailly become an employer..?who would I do this with...?..if there is no tax to pay why would I do it..?then what paper work do I set this cost off against outgoings in next years tax return?...can I still be a sole trader and employ someone?...or do I need to become a ltd company

OP posts:
Roskvawantingsomesunshine · 19/02/2007 13:33

You should set up a payroll and register with the inland revenue for PAYE for your empolyee: even if you are paying less than the tax threshold, if they have more than one part time job, they may have to pay tax. Also, if you want to offset the costs of employing someone as a business expense (and that will inlcude employer's national insurance contributions as well) then you will need to put your employee into the tax system, regardless of how much they are earning. Also, you should consider taking out employer's liability insurance if the person will be working on your premises.

Have you thought about seeing if anyone is offering an admin/bookkeeping service in your area? If there is someone doing this on a self employed basis or a company offering this service, it removes the hassle of doing your own payroll/paying someone to do your payroll, as you pay for the service, like you would pay say an accountant. This would still be a business expenses you should be able to offset against your tax.

This only works if it is someone providing the service on a professional basis and has more than one client: it is difficult to persuade the inland revenue that someone is self employed if they only have one client!

As to whether you need to set up a limited company, it is probably worth considering. You can buy a shelf company for as little as £50 - there are lots of agents that sell shelf companies and sort out the forms to make it yours. However, you do have to do an annual return - £15 per year if you file online, £30 if you do it by post. It would be a good idea to speak to an accountant as to which would be the best option for you.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page