working as a mother's help... would i be technicalyl self-employed? what does it involve?

[starlover]

i mean, what does being self-employed involve?

i worked casually as a mtoher's help for 9 years, just a few hours in the evenings.
cash in hand type thing..

anyway, was thinking about maybe advertising to do it again, taking ds along with me.... but what do i do about tax and all that stuff? would i be self-employed? is it very complicated?

I presume you would be, I'm a childminder and I'm self-employed. Best thing to do is contact you local Inland Revenue Business Advisor team. You can usually arrange for them to visit you if it helps although hopefully it will be far less complicated for you so they should be able to send forms and advise on the phone?

I think this number should help - 0845 6070 143.

HTH

Employed v self-employed isn't that clear cut. One of the factors will be how many clients/employers you have, and how much time you spend with them. Typically a mothers help is an employee, but if you were just doing 3 hours a week for each of 5 or 6 women, then you're more likely to be self-employed. Nannies for example are typically employees (working full time for one person, under their direction), childminders are self-employed (can work for a number of clients, but at their own direction).

If you are self-employed, then you will need to do a return for each tax year. It isn't that complicated, but you would have to keep records of what you earned (and any expenses that might be deductible).

oh that's interesting ladymuck... i was thinking of doing it part-time for just one family, so maybe i'd be employed.

will have to contact IR i guess!

If you earn less than around £87 per week then there shouldn't be any hassle for the family anyway.

Of course your status isn't just about whether you're responsible for your own tax - you also need to consider whether you get sick/holiday pay etc.

yeah... tbh i am not THAT worried about sick/holiday pay.
any extra money i earn is fab, but i can live without it iyswim? although getting paid would be a bonus too! lol

I would say as you are working in their house you would be an employee same as a nanny. On the other hand a cleaner is often self employed.
The defination has something to do with if you cam send a replacement and if you offer your services to others. Try this query on employment issues.

i knew it'd be complicated! lol