Hello

I registered as a self-employed teacher in august this year, just spoke to inland revenue and they said I don't need to do self-assessment until late next year.

Is this true? I thought I'd have to do all this either end of this month if I'm doing it on paper or by January next year if doing it online even if I have to estimate my income.

Also, they haven't aked me to pay NIC class 2 contributions yet, should I get them to send me a bill ASAP so I don't get lumped with a big sum all of a sudden?

Thanks for your help,

The assessment which needs to be in at the end of this month (by paper) or January (online) is for the year ending 5th April 2008, so if you weren't teaching before this point, you won't need to do one until next year. They ask retrospectively, i.e. what your income was last year, rather than asking you to estimate what you think it'll be for the forthcoming year.

As for NIC, if they haven't asked for anything I'd be inclined not to pay anything yet, but to squirrel the money away and enjoy any interest it attracts.

That reminds me, I must make sure I've got enough chocolate biscuits in to make completing mine bearable.

Although technically the same department, you have to register with the NI contributions office as well as Inland Revenue. If you don't, they won't send you a bill, and could charge you contributions at a higher rate when they do find out. You could also have legal action taken against you and lose future benefit entitlement. It's not worth it. I pay mine monthly by direct debit - it's not a lot and I can forget about it.
The telephone number is 0845 915 4655. Have your NI number handy when you ring.

I agree, the returns due now are for year ending 5/4/08.
I applied for "small earnings exemption" with regard to the NI contributions.
You have to consider your individual position but in my case it wasn't worth paying any further NI contributions as I am employed Part time elsewhere.
Worth a look at anyway!

I'm also working part-time as a peri and pay NI that way, and don't think I'll be earning much above £5000 for year ending april 09 from self-employment, should I apply for small earnings exemption now? I guess I'll find all this out when I ring the NI office..thanks for all the helpful information.