Check my employment status

Builder holding plans of work to show a customer

Your employment status has important implications for both tax and employment law. It is important that you establish your employment status when you start your new business

You are likely to be classed as self-employed if you run your own business and are responsible for the success or failure of that business. Do you:

  • run the business and take responsibility for business risks
  • have more than one customer
  • decide what you do, where and when
  • have the right to substitute other people to do the work for you at your own expense
  • provide your own tools or equipment

It is possible to be classed as self-employed for some of your work and as an employee for other work. You can use the HMRC Employment Status tool to check your employment status.

If the tool indicates that you are self-employed for some of your work, you are required to register as self-employed with HMRC. You will then need to start keeping a record of all your expenses and income, complete a self-assessment tax return and pay any tax and national insurance owing.

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