Maternity Pay - can you work while on Mat leave?

[MET1]

1) Is it possible to employ you spouse to do some part time bookkeeping in order to reduce self employed profits?

2) Spouse is about to start maternity leave in october, will only receive statutory maternity benefits.

if she were to do work for me, would this mean she would be ineligible for maternity leave and pay from her main employer?


thanks for your help!

[e-ccountant]

1) Yes, if they are legitimately working for the business. You will have to set up a PAYE scheme however as they will need to account for tax/NIC on any pay received.