Cleaner/dog walker, how to pay?

Cleaner/dog walker, how to pay?

Author
Discussion

KFC

3,687 posts

131 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
sidekickdmr said:
Do they have to do the work themselves? - No, then can send someone else if they wish.

Can someone tell them at any time what to do, where to carry out the work or when and how to do it? - She will have a list of tasks, what and when she does them is up to her.

Can they work a set amount of hours? Yes

Can someone move them from task to task? No, she would manage her own time

Are they paid by the hour, week, or month? Would be a day/week rate paid via invoice

Can they get overtime pay or bonus payment? - No




Can they hire someone to do the work or engage helpers at their own expense? - Yes

Do they risk their own money? - No

Do they provide the main items of equipment they need to do their job, not just the small tools that many employees provide for themselves? - No

Do they agree to do a job for a fixed price regardless of how long the job may take? - Yes

Can they decide what work to do, how and when to do the work and where to provide the services? - Yes

Do they regularly work for a number of different people? - They can do, could have 10 jobs for all i care

Do they have to correct unsatisfactory work in their own time and at their own expense? - Yes
Its pretty clear you're just trying to force the answers to fit the answer you want laugh

Try this theoretical one on for size :

You hire the nice old lady in her 60's who lives down the street. Super responsible, and you're perfectly happy with her. She can't be bothered coming one day, so sends her 20 year old grandson to hang out in your house alone instead. Are you going to allow that ?

"She will have a list of tasks, what and when she does them is up to her." - thats completely unrealistic, she's going to have to do it all within a specific time window and will fail this point.

" No, she would manage her own time" - untrue, she's going to be there when you tell her. She's also going to have to do things when you tell her... if you say walk the dogs then do the cleaning she isn't going to be able to say no I'm going to do it the other way around.

Do they agree to do a job for a fixed price regardless of how long the job may take? - Yes - thats not true at all, you're saying she's going to be there for a set number of hours.

Do they regularly work for a number of different people? - They can do, could have 10 jobs for all i care - no they can't, as they work for you for 4+ hours every day. You know, I know, the tax man knows, you're their sole employer.

Do they have to correct unsatisfactory work in their own time and at their own expense? - Yes - also untrue. You can't ask them to continue to work for free for whatever reason.



If you want to twist the rules and employ her cash in hand.... just go ahead and do it. Its pointless lying to yourself and to us online to try and justify it smile

sidekickdmr

Original Poster:

5,078 posts

207 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
KFC said:
Its pretty clear you're just trying to force the answers to fit the answer you want laugh

Try this theoretical one on for size :

You hire the nice old lady in her 60's who lives down the street. Super responsible, and you're perfectly happy with her. She can't be bothered coming one day, so sends her 20 year old grandson to hang out in your house alone instead. Are you going to allow that ?

Via proir agreement I dont see why not, no different to a cleaning company or dog walking company sending a replacement to cover holiday/sick, which they often do.

"She will have a list of tasks, what and when she does them is up to her." - thats completely unrealistic, she's going to have to do it all within a specific time window and will fail this point.

Im not going to tell her what to do when, there will be a list, as long as its done by time I get home I dont mind in what order.

" No, she would manage her own time" - untrue, she's going to be there when you tell her. She's also going to have to do things when you tell her... if you say walk the dogs then do the cleaning she isn't going to be able to say no I'm going to do it the other way around.

Agreed on the hours, but why would I mind if she wants to hoover before taking the dogs out?

Do they agree to do a job for a fixed price regardless of how long the job may take? - Yes - thats not true at all, you're saying she's going to be there for a set number of hours.

Agreed I mis-read that question, the hours will be set

Do they regularly work for a number of different people? - They can do, could have 10 jobs for all i care - no they can't, as they work for you for 4+ hours every day. You know, I know, the tax man knows, you're their sole employer.

Why cant she go and walk someone elses dog at 3.30, or clean someones house on a saturday? Iim not going to stop her.

Do they have to correct unsatisfactory work in their own time and at their own expense? - Yes - also untrue. You can't ask them to continue to work for free for whatever reason.

If I get home and she has failed to do a job, I would hapilly get her back to do it, the same as anyone else im paying for a service. If i paid an oven cleaner and it wasnt good enough id get them back.

If you want to twist the rules and employ her cash in hand.... just go ahead and do it. Its pointless lying to yourself and to us online to try and justify it smile
Im not trying to be ackward and honestly appreciate the time your taking helping, just fail to understand how its any different to hiring a cleaner and dog walker from yellow pages.

Im a contractor, I have worked for the same company 40 hours a week for over 3 1/2 years now. Im self employed and send a monthly invoice made up of day rate x 20 or so.

whats the difference im missing here?

illmonkey

18,211 posts

199 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
sidekickdmr said:
Im not trying to be ackward and honestly appreciate the time your taking helping, just fail to understand how its any different to hiring a cleaner and dog walker from yellow pages.

Im a contractor, I have worked for the same company 40 hours a week for over 3 1/2 years now. Im self employed and send a monthly invoice made up of day rate x 20 or so.

whats the difference im missing here?
IR35.

Eric Mc

122,053 posts

266 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
IR35 only applies if the "self employed" individual is billing through an "intermediary" of some sort - such as a limited company or a partnership.

As indicated by the OP's line of questions, most people generally do not truly understand the subtleties involved in deciding whether a person has been engaged on an employed or a "self employed" basis.
And they also don't understand the costs they might incur if they get it wrong.

otolith

56,201 posts

205 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
I have to wonder whether the amount of complexity and red tape around something like this is really appropriate - and how much of what is currently the black economy would be taxed if it were simplified.

KFC

3,687 posts

131 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
otolith said:
I have to wonder whether the amount of complexity and red tape around something like this is really appropriate - and how much of what is currently the black economy would be taxed if it were simplified.
Its hard to say... as by far the least complex and cheapest way to do it is to simply pay someone cash in hand for dog walking or cleaning. I've used both extensively in the past... and always paid cash and never asked for a receipt, invoice, or cared about the employment status etc. I just figured the chances of anything coming of it were so remote that I didn't care. And I certainly don't care if someone earning 10 euros an hour or less is fiddling their tax.

guards red

667 posts

201 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all

otolith

56,201 posts

205 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
KFC said:
otolith said:
I have to wonder whether the amount of complexity and red tape around something like this is really appropriate - and how much of what is currently the black economy would be taxed if it were simplified.
Its hard to say... as by far the least complex and cheapest way to do it is to simply pay someone cash in hand for dog walking or cleaning. I've used both extensively in the past... and always paid cash and never asked for a receipt, invoice, or cared about the employment status etc. I just figured the chances of anything coming of it were so remote that I didn't care. And I certainly don't care if someone earning 10 euros an hour or less is fiddling their tax.
Exactly the point.

guards red

667 posts

201 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
... The above link is for simplified PAYE for domestic staff. The scheme is designed to cover situations exactly such as this.

Eric Mc

122,053 posts

266 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
otolith said:
KFC said:
otolith said:
I have to wonder whether the amount of complexity and red tape around something like this is really appropriate - and how much of what is currently the black economy would be taxed if it were simplified.
Its hard to say... as by far the least complex and cheapest way to do it is to simply pay someone cash in hand for dog walking or cleaning. I've used both extensively in the past... and always paid cash and never asked for a receipt, invoice, or cared about the employment status etc. I just figured the chances of anything coming of it were so remote that I didn't care. And I certainly don't care if someone earning 10 euros an hour or less is fiddling their tax.
Exactly the point.
Yes - ignoring the rules and breaking the law is always the easiest and least expensive option, until you get caught.

Of course, the chances of getting caught are fairly slim - but that is the risk you have to be happy with when deciding not to comply with the rules.

otolith

56,201 posts

205 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
otolith said:
KFC said:
otolith said:
I have to wonder whether the amount of complexity and red tape around something like this is really appropriate - and how much of what is currently the black economy would be taxed if it were simplified.
Its hard to say... as by far the least complex and cheapest way to do it is to simply pay someone cash in hand for dog walking or cleaning. I've used both extensively in the past... and always paid cash and never asked for a receipt, invoice, or cared about the employment status etc. I just figured the chances of anything coming of it were so remote that I didn't care. And I certainly don't care if someone earning 10 euros an hour or less is fiddling their tax.
Exactly the point.
Yes - ignoring the rules and breaking the law is always the easiest and least expensive option, until you get caught.

Of course, the chances of getting caught are fairly slim - but that is the risk you have to be happy with when deciding not to comply with the rules.
Changing the system to make it easier and cheaper for people to be within it may increase overall tax take. You shouldn't need advice from an accountant in this sort of situation.

Eric Mc

122,053 posts

266 months

Wednesday 5th November 2014
quotequote all
otolith said:
Changing the system to make it easier and cheaper for people to be within it may increase overall tax take. You shouldn't need advice from an accountant in this sort of situation.
HMRC would be more than happy for you not to use an accountant. smile

In fact, in most "Domestic Employee" situations, accountants aren't needed. But what is needed is that the "employer" does a bit of homework to find out what his/her legal obligations are.

mikeyr

3,118 posts

194 months

Friday 21st November 2014
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Monkeylegend said:
My other half has been dog walking for 4 years, I am expecting her home sometime soon.
Nothing to add to this thread other than to say rofl