Hello

Just a quick question

a client and his partner are working for a charity as a Johova's witness. They work over 30 hours a week. The work is voluntary and it is a registered charity, however they do get a reimbursement which is split ( £90 for travel / £115 for food/ clothing/ rent/ etc). They have been classed as self employed by the IR for NI purposes. There is no contract.

My question is can they apply for WTC as self employed? I would have left it at no if it wernt for the fact the IR assessed them as self employed for NI.

there is no claim for TC currently.


thanks

i'm sorry - i don't know what kind of work being a jehovah's witness is, or how one can be a self-employed voluntary worker.

is there something you haven't mentioned?

jj

They say they get reimbursed the above amounts, they preach doing whatever hours they like, and supplied with books, literature etc etc. Like i say, i was going to say no to tax credit application as per Reg 4(2) WTC (EMR) regs, its just when they stated that the IR classed them as self employed for NI contributions, it threw me.

This is sounding more and more like a no to me, cant find anything to the contrary.

They ARE voluntary workers so think this is the clincher so to speak.

Would they continue to be paid if they did no 'voluntary' work?

I assume that they are not 'members of religious orders who are fully maintained by their order', it wouldn't apply to Tax Credit but if they aren't treated as having work hours then it might apply for means-tested benefits.