Questions about working in snack van

[crazyshady]

I'm sure the oldtimers here remember my threads on starting a snack van business But with perseverance I have managed to get my street traders licence and all my certificates up to date. Just a quick freshen up in the van and I can go out and trade hassle free. What I wanted to ask about was working in the van and how to go about it all.

I thought there was a chance last year that I would have got a private pitch, so much so that I went as far as registering self employed and then it fell through. The Job Centre said that was fine, because I hadnt worked it didn't matter and even said that it would save me time doing so when I did finally get something legit. I filled in a tax return this year, paid nothing of course because I never worked anywhere I was still claiming benefits and so now I can work. I know for me it's as simple as signing off, which I will do. I do remember reading something about me having up to 3 months to either sign off or notify the job centre that i am working self employed. If anyone could clear that up that would be great.

Then there is the question of someone helping me. I know a lot of vans have casual workers in it but my problem is I don't know how all that works. I don't know how many hours people are allowed to work. I was told that there might even be some kind of thing where the government gives me money if I employ someone. I don't know how it all works and the thing is anyone can complain like a local business, next thing I know the police are here asking for NI numbers and that's whoever is with me screwed. I don't know how it all works so I'm best trying to do it right but aside from actually employing someone.....which I don't know how to do or if there is any benefits for me. How else could someone work in a snack van, even if just for a small number of hours to help me out?

 

[Scalloway]

To be legal you should ask anyone who is going to work for you to sign an HMRC form called a P46. They must state if they are working elsewhere. If they are not working elsewhwere they can work a few hours a week without needing anything else. If they have another job you must register with HMRC as an employer and deduct tax from what you pay them. You must then pay this tax to HMRC.

 

[crazyshady]

They are currently claiming benefits and would like to work 16 hours with me. Do the job centre not do anything for new employers to help them employ people or give any funding for employing someone and taking them off benefits?

What is this P46 form? Do they just fill it in themselves? Do I need to fill anything in on their behalf? Ive heard things about an employer paying the employees tax for them but that's only if you earn over a certain amount and I think the minimum wage at 16 hours is less than that amount.

 

[Scalloway]

There is a sample p46 below. You are correct that someone working 16 hours a week on minimum wage with no other employment will not pay tax.

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/media/P46.pdf

 

[crazyshady]

Is it an easy enough process? Obviously I would need to check that i am still listed as self employed and if not I know that is a phone call away. Then I sign off. I'm guessing they would need to sign off. How would I get one of those P46 forms? And what happens with tax? Is there anything I need to do or fill out for them or myself to say they are working for me? And I wouldn't need PAYE would I?

 

[ethical PR]

You need to get copy of their Passport to show they can work in uk . Check business link and HMRC for infOrmation on setting up a business and employment matters

 

[crazyshady]

I'll need to look into all that. I'm in a position where I could start trading on Monday but I can leave it off a few more days until I get all this sorted and that I can understand it all myself. It's really them that i need to worry about. Basically I need to make sure the right paperwork is filled in, if it's that P46 then fair enough and find out is there anything else that I need to fill out myself or need to fill out on a regular basis. If all that needs to be done is the P46 being filled in then that's great.