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information for domestic workers

Many domestic workers, employers and agencies assume that because of the unique circumstances that exist between in domestic employment, they don’t qualify for redundancy pay. But providing you meet the requirements you are entitled to redundancy pay just like any other employee.
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Home Domestic workers can i be self-employed?
Domestic workers & self employment PDF Print E-mail
"Can I sort out my own tax and National Insurance?" this is a question we're frequently asked by domestic workers. Whether someone is employed or self-employed depends on the terms and conditions of their work. It is important for all employees to know their employment status as it affects employment and benefit rights, and how to pay tax and National Insurance Contributions

It is equally important that the employer is absolutely certain whether their employee is employed or self-employed.

How to determine employment status
A worker is probably considered employed if they:

  • have to do the work themselves
  • can be told at any time what to do, where to carry out the work or when and how to do it
  • work a set amount of hours
  • can be moved from task to task
  • are paid by the hour, week or month
  • can be paid overtime or receive bonus payments

A worker is probably considered self-employed if they:

  • can hire someone else to do their work or engage helpers at their own expense
  • risk their own money
  • provide the main items of equipment needed to do their job, not just the small tools that many employees provide for themselves
  • agree to do a job for a fixed price regardless of how long the job may take
  • can decide what work to do, how and when to do the work and where to provide the services
  • regularly work for a number of people
  • have to correct unsatisfactory work in their own time and at their own expense

*Please note that these lists are not exhaustive.

The exception to the rule
It's clear to see that in most cases domestic workers do not meet HMRC's criteria for self-employment.

However in some cases HMRC do grant domestic workers self-employment status. It's important to remember, though, that transfer of self-employment status between jobs is not automatic, and each situation will need to be considered individually.

So in the vast majority of cases a domestic employee will be employed and it is up to their employer to register with HMRC, operate a PAYE scheme and pay tax and National Insurance Contributions on their behalf. Failure to declare an employee to avoid paying tax and NI is a criminal offence which can result in heavy penalties. It also affects the statutory entitlements such as unemployment benefit, statutory maternity pay and state pension.