Online media training sessions for our charity clients now focus on preparation for being interviewed from home using meeting software such as Zoom, Skype or MS Teams.
We’ve moved all our freelance business skills training online and are putting a particular focus on helping people move through redundancy into self-employment for the first time.
Now that the formalities of leaving the European Union are behind us it’s time to unpick the practical effects and what it means for people who freelance in the creative industries.
The third coronavirus support grant for sole traders is available from today (30 November 2020) until 29 January 2021. See full details on: gov.uk >
This grant covers three months and, like grant 1, is based on 80% of average monthly profits calculated on sole trader profits between 2016 and 2019.
Much has been made of the fact that the eligibility criteria haven’t changed. If you were helped by the first two grants you’re probably eligible for this one too. Cold comfort for all those who’ve had no support since March.
And just to state the obvious, none of the SEISS grants support single directors of limited companies. In government-speak, directors of limited companies do not fall within the definition of a ‘sole trader’.
Less well publicised has been the addition of further restrictions. These take the form of declarations and predictions that a sole trader now has to make.
From April 2021 the decision on whether someone is truly working for themselves – or is simply an employee in disguise – shifts from the freelancer to the end client in some circumstances.
If you run a limited company this could mean changes to the way tax is paid for some of the jobs you do.