Registering as Self Employed

[Budlet]

Not sure if this is the right section to ask this question. I have just started a part-time job where I have to register as self employed. I have been on the direct.gov website, but it appears I can only register if I am a sole trader or partner (I am neither of these). Anyone have any idea how I can register?

[Buenchico]

if you're working, for example, for a firm like Betterware, the law still regards you as a 'sole trader'. (You're legally running your own business, even though you're acting as an agent for a major company). So it's the 'sole trader' section which you need to complete. (When you're asked for the name of your business, fill in your own name - not that of the company which is providing you with the work).

Chris

[Budlet]

Thanks Chris. I am working as an office assistant.

[Buenchico]

If you're working on a regular basis the tax man might frown upon the company taking you on as 'self-employed', when you should really be an employee of the company. However if you're available on an 'on call' basis (with the right to refuse work when it doesn't fit in with your other plans) then you can genuinely be regarded as a self-employed sole trader. (Tell HMRC that your business is 'office services', or something similar).

Such an arrangement can be beneficial in that it makes work available to someone even though a company might not want to take on a regular employee. However you need to remember that self-employed people have no entitlement to paid holidays or to claim for 'unfair dismissal'.

Chris