Where to start? How do I register as self employed? Is it too late?

[schroedingersdodo]

I'm a journalist, and have usually worked as full time employee in the UK. I've had a baby 2 years ago, didn't go back after maternity leave, so officially unemployed for about a year, with no income.

In the last few months I've done a few freelance jobs - very small things, earned in total about £300 spread through a few months. Didn't bother registering as self employed or anything. I just filled the invoices and got paid.

So now I was offered a job that will pay a couple of thousands, and I don't know what to do with regards to registration, taxes, VAT, etc. The search I did on the internet wasn't very enlightening (everything is so confusing).

I need to speak to a real person!! Could anyone here be this person? Many, many thanks in advance!

PS: I'm currently pg with DC2, so I was wondering if maybe my earnings during pregnancy will entitle me to some maternity pay?

My post here pretty much sums it up - take a look at the link to Business Link.

VAT was not covered on that thread: as a journalist it may be worth you registering for VAT as long as the majority of your customers are business (but if you do a lot of work for charities it might not be).

If you want to contact me privately, send me a message here or my site.

also have a look at my me page
members.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=talkinpeace
written for ebayers but the targeted links are sound .....

MrAnchovy and Talkinpeace2 many thanks for your help. I'll have a read on your links and explanations (I've read them already, but I need to re-read until I take all the info in...)

I know now that my next step is to call HMRC and tell them I want to register as self employed, dating back a few months (I'll check when exactly was the first job). Is this correct?

After that I'll think about the rest (can you see I get get terribly confused if I try to think of more than two things at once?)

Thanks again!

MrAnchovy, can I pick your brain?

We moved to Norway, EEA back in 2008. The stay was meant to be temporary.
I informed HMRC prior to moving, notably, the tax credits line. I was informed that because we would still work for a UK employer, pay tax and NI we would still be eligible for tax credits and Child benefit.

Whilst in Norway, I was still keeping them updated with address changes. One day they decided that because we had moved, we were no longer entitled to Tax credits. Fair enough.

I applied for the child benefit top up in Norway. They looked into my claim, and decided that because I lived in Norway, despite having a uk employer and paying tax and NI in the uk, due to EU legislation, they would top up child benefit to the national level.

Fast forward to last summer. I have a letter from the UK where they are investigating my child benefit claim, and stop it. I thought, "oh well, we are moving back soon, so will deal with this once we are back".

When we returned to the UK, we let hmrc know our address, and I filled in all the forms relating to the child benefit investigation. Then I received a demand for £5.4 k back. I have tried to argue my entitledment under the legislation HMRC state on their website regards to people working in the EU or EEA, but have only managed to "bargain" this down to 2.9k. Not sure what to do really. I thought everybody was entitled to child benefit, and their website explicitly state that I can still get child benefit whilst working overseas!

I could have received child benefit in Norway, rather than a top up, but I didnt because I had been told before going we would get it, Norwegian authorities investigated whether I had a valid claim for a top up, and the website still says people are entitled to childbenefit from the uk when working overseas. What can I do? I dont have £3k knocking about!

Sorry, the only thing I know about benefits is how they interact with tax and national insurance.

Have you tried a Citizens Advice Bureau?

schroedingersdodo you need to have paid 26 weeks of Class 2 contributions by the week before the week your baby is due.