Can I remain self employed and take work through a recruitment agency?

[Claireodon]

I am a bit . I have been self employed for 7 months and intend to remain so. However, I am also planning to take up additional work through a recruitment agency. Can I do this on a self employed basis rather than PAYE?

not sure if it would be self employed or PAYE but you can be employed and self employed at the same time so it won't really matter

I would rather do it on a self-employed basis though because the job is quite a distance from home and I can claim my travelling expenses back

I think if its the agency paying you - it needs to be on a PAYE basis.

Unless you are a limited company - they sometimes let you invoice them.

But yes - you can have paye earnings and self emplyed earnings - just put both lots on your self assessment at end of year.

Unless it's a longer term contract and then you could maybe get the client to take you on directly and pay the recruitment company a finders fee. I've done that \ couple of times when its a long term contract - saves the client ££££

Agency jobs are almost always either PAYE or Ltd Co.

You can fill in an employed tax return with self employed pages if you are on payroll but you will be paying more NI and it's hard to get it back, I'm told.

There is a limit to how much you earn as self employed on this return, something like 15K

Thanks everyone!

I was in this position last year...it will depend on the recruitment agency. If they let you invoice then and pay the invoice then yes you can do it as self employed. But most agencies will insist on you being on their books and PAYE - in which case you just fill in the section on the tax return.