I had a go on the ESI thing and it said I was self employed.

I don't think the company has anyone else on the same sort of contract, as it happens I may have just sorted another client out who I would be regularly invoicing, so I would have at least 2 clients.

You could be fine. More clients will help massively.

Sounds like it's either a lot tougher or people are guessing what you can do.

I was a typographer, spent 3 years freelancing. Set a day rate, then an hourly rate after 630pm. Claimed all that I was entitled to. Car, petrol, travel, flat, utilities, postage, stationery, print, computers (which depreciate and an amount will come of next year’s tax bill too) and of course the miscellaneous column. From memory a percentage of my flat was tax deductible as it was used as my office. So if you earn £25,000 and your expenses were £5,000, your tax will be based on the £20,000 that's left. I spent years with the same company and did the odd job for others. You don't get things like holidays or sickness as you well know no doubt.

But mintball may be able to fill you in more as she does get paid holiday as a freelancer for some amazing and fortunate reason. Jammy moo.

It's got a lot tougher, especially with single-employee limited companies working almost exclusively for one client.

The OP should change his name to Starbucks and then tell HMRC to fook off

Ive got a meeting with an accountant today so I'll see what he says.

What seems really annoying about the IR35 tax is that it seems if you fall within it, you get taxed more than if you were an employee but obviously without any of the benefits of being an employee.

Is it only the rich that are allowed tax benefits still then? Blimey.

And it was brought in by a Labour Government! although the the coalition seemingly had an opportunity to change the tax law but unsurprisingly did bugger all about it.

It's as much to get the contracting companies as the individuals, really. A lot try to pass employees off as sub-contractors to save paying NI.

Get yourself registered on Sark and avoid any sort of tiresome paperwork and tax, although this advice does not apply if you are a teacher for the island is saturated with teachers with [url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2227905/Supply-teachers-caught-offshore-tax-row-Taxpayers-lose-millions-staff-employed-foreign-firms.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=149024000 of them all working in one small school[/url.

Having just spoken to the accountant he thinks I'll be ok, I just have to be careful how the contract is worded, probably best if the contract is to oversee one whole project over the six moths rather than various little jobs as and when they arise. But having another client will be enough to prove I'm self employed he reckons. Also he did say that there has hardly been any cases of people actually been investigated and brought into the IR35 tax bracket, although he did say they may be looking to clamp down on it.

Are you going to be working as a sole trader invoicing your clients personally, or are you going to be invoicing through a limited company?

If it's the former, then while you need to think about employment status you don't have to worry about IR35. The IR35 legislation only applies if you are providing your services through your own limited company, e.g. Christopher Ltd.