Locuming and being self-employed

Re: Locuming and being self-employed

Katherine Spear — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:07:29 GMT

Regarding your insurance question, I use www.veterinarydefencesociety.co.uk x

Re: Locuming and being self-employed

mrsspider — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:07:14 GMT

It is hard to find practices that will allow you to be self-employed rather than use an umbrella company, however I have found that offering to put something in writing to say that I am self-employed and am liable for making sure my tax and national insurance is paid sometimes helps to get practices to allow you to work for them without using an umbrella company.

The other thing I do is if I am forced into using an umbrella company I always ask for a higher hourly rate to cover the money I lose for admin costs, employers NI etc sometimes this also helps practices to make the decision to avoid an umbrella company as it will cost them more to employ me.

I hate umbrella companies with a passion, and so far have managed to only use them for 2 placements over the last year, I generally find that the big corporate companies are the ones that insist on using them, so I tend to look for my work with smaller practices.

Re: Locuming and being self-employed

Sal the 1st — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:33:02 GMT

why dont you just ask to go on employers payroll whilst you are working there? and save the hassle - I was self employed and did that a few times when I was locumming. That way there is no concern over tax and NI and everybody is happy. Also on my invoice when I wasnt on payroll used to state that tax and NI were my responsibility and not the responsibility of the employer. I never had any problems and never used an umbrella company - I also never had a problem finding work and was booked up about 3 months in advance.

Re: Locuming and being self-employed

Fuzzyduck — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:27:47 GMT

Ive found exactly the same thing, about 5 or 6 years ago when i first started locumming i never used an umbrella company and no practices ever questioned it but nowadays it is almost impossible to find a practice that will employ you as self employed, i find you either have to use an umbrella company or go PAYE.

I dont really know what prompted the change, maybe more practices were being fined for locums not paying tax and NI i have no idea but its a pain in the bum and makes locumming less worthwhile now you end up having to pay the umbrella company. Also i will never understand why you have to pay the employers national insurance with an umbrella co, it seems an absolute joke!!