Are you self-employed or employed?
It depends on the arrangement, not on what you or the hirer call it. If you are paid through payroll and the company controls when, where and how you work, you are usually an employee or worker and tax comes off through PAYE. If you invoice companies and choose how to do the job, you are usually self-employed. Many crew have both in one year. HMRC has a tool to check employment status for tax.
When you must register
Self-employed income above £1,000 in a tax year means you need to tell HMRC. The tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. You must register for Self Assessment by 5 October after the tax year in which you started. See GOV.UK on working for yourself and how to register for Self Assessment. Registration is free. Do not pay anyone to register for you.
The £1,000 trading allowance
If your total gross self-employed income for the year is £1,000 or less, you do not need to register or report it. Above £1,000 you can either deduct the £1,000 allowance from your income or deduct your actual expenses, whichever is better for you. You cannot do both. The details are on GOV.UK.
What you can claim
You can deduct costs that are wholly and exclusively for the work. For event crew that can include work boots, hi-vis, gloves, and tools you buy for jobs, public liability insurance, and travel to a temporary site. Travel from home to a regular place of work is treated differently, so read expenses if you are self-employed before you claim. Keep every receipt and a simple record of each job: date, hirer, amount and mileage.
Deadlines and payments
The online return is due by 31 January after the tax year ends, and any tax owed is due by the same date. Missing the filing deadline brings an automatic penalty. Check the dates on GOV.UK. Set money aside from each payment so a bill in January does not catch you out. Class 4 National Insurance may also apply to profits above a threshold, so check the current rates.
What CrewPool does and does not do
CrewPool is a list. You agree rate and terms directly with the hirer and CrewPool does not take a cut of your pay or handle your tax. If you are unsure which category you fall into, ask HMRC or a qualified accountant. For what to charge, see how to set your day rate.
Get started
Looking for work? Join the crew list free. Hiring? Search the list.