Employing someone in your home office

[Caspar]

I run an admin business and work from a downstairs study at home. My understanding is that I don't have to pay council tax, as I don't have customers coming round, or sell anything at my door etc. I am purely processing paperwork and answering phone calls.

Timewise, the room I work in is 90% used for admin work and 10% used for personal use.

But I am now looking to employ an assistant, and wonder if this will affect me, where if I did, I may have to start paying Business rates.

Has this happened to anyone else, where they could let me know if I do have to register for Business Rates at the point of employing someone, what kind of costs would be involved apart from paying for Employers Liability Insurance?

 

[WaveJumper]

Off the tp of my head you could add to the list:
National Minimum Wage / Real Living Wage
National Insurance
Auto-enrolment Pension
Holiday Pay
Sick Pay
Maternity / Paternity and Adoption Leave and Pay

 

[Caspar]

Off the tp of my head you could add to the list:
National Minimum Wage / Real Living Wage
National Insurance
Auto-enrolment Pension
Holiday Pay
Sick Pay
Maternity / Paternity and Adoption Leave and Pay

Thanks for the reply, but I meant costs for Business Rates really.

 

[WaveJumper]

To be honest I think the only way you are going to get the definitive answer on this will be to contact your local valuation officer. You can use this link to find your local office:
https://www.gov.uk/contact-voa

 

[Caspar]

To be honest I think the only way you are going to get the definitive answer on this will be to contact your local valuation officer. You can use this link to find your local office:
https://www.gov.uk/contact-voa

Thanks

 

[Scalloway]

You also may need to apply for planning permission if you are changing the use of the room.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

From gov.uk
Working at home
You do not usually have to pay business rates for home-based businesses if you:

• use a small part of your home for your business, for example if you use a bedroom as an office
• sell goods by post

You may need to pay business rates as well as Council Tax if:

• your property is part business and part domestic, for example if you live above your shop
• you sell goods or services to people who visit your property
• you employ other people to work at your property
• you’ve made changes to your home for your business, for example converted a garage to a hairdresser’s

 

[Frank the Insurance guy]

Off the tp of my head you could add to the list:
National Minimum Wage / Real Living Wage
National Insurance
Auto-enrolment Pension
Holiday Pay
Sick Pay
Maternity / Paternity and Adoption Leave and Pay

Add to that Employers Liability Insurance is a legal requirement - you must have that!

Also tell your home insurance company that you will have an employee working from your home.

 

[WaveJumper]

Who ever thought employing someone could be so much fun

 

[Newchodge]

Who ever thought employing someone could be so much fun

 

[Financial-Modeller]

I run an admin business and work from a downstairs study at home. My understanding is that I don't have to pay council tax, as I don't have customers coming round, or sell anything at my door etc. I am purely processing paperwork and answering phone calls....

As you provide services for your clients remotely, couldn't your prospective new assistant also work remotely, from their home?