How do I go about becoming self-employed tax-wise?

[Lilyofthevalley]

I am in Ireland, don't know if UK procedure is the same, but...

I am starting a business in wedding photography so I can work from home 6 days a week and only be out 1 day a weeks and still care for my dd.

My problem is this, I was working full time with a dodgy newly formed business which had no HR department to offer advice. When I got pregnant I decided I was going to be a SAHM so I wrote a letter to my company to inform them I was taking first my 16 weeks maternity leave, followed by 12 weeks extended unpaid leave and then my parental leave all in one go. That took me up to now.

Do I now write to my dodgy employer to say I'm not coming back to work? (They already know that, but just to get it in writing?) And then tell the tax office I am self-employed? How do I do this without having to re-pay my maternity benefit?

Bump. Anyone know?

iwould have thought that the tax collector was different in eire

but here the procedure is it's compulsory to inform the tax office when you necome self employed..I think the time scale is 3 months

and I don't think you would repay any naternity pay as that is paid by the government here at any rate

I agree with zippitippitoes. Here at least you are entitled to maternity leave and should not have to pay any back. I have recently gone self employed all I did was ring the number out of the book and they sent out appropriate forms to fill in. As for tax they can give u an estimate and you will have to do do self assesment at year end. Was v daunting to begin with but seems to be working out now. Good Luck with your new venture I hope it goes weel, shame u r over there cos I am getting married in August!